This weekend had high drama. As was the case Friday, when the Komets set the franchise record for most consecutive home victories, on Saturday the Komets needed a comeback, a third-period goal from P.C. Drouin and an overtime shootout to win.
The Komets defeated the Flint Generals 4-3 this time and captured the Huber Trophy as regular-season champions of the International Hockey League.
It was Fort Wayne's 10th straight victory and its 20th straight at home.
Fort Wayne captured the Huber Trophy seven times in the first incarnation of the IHL, where the Komets played from 1952 to 1999. In the United Hockey League, they won the Tarry Cup three times, including last season. So, this makes 11 regular-season championships in 56 seasons. Not too shabby.
While this game will go down as historic, it won't be remembered as pretty. The Komets looked downright awful for the first period and a half. How often do you see David Hukalo turn over the puck to set up an opposing team's goal? Anyway, the Komets trailed 3-1 before Luciano Aquino's redirection goal got them going, and then came Drouin's second goal of the night.
In the shootout, it was Konstantin Shafranov getting the only goal. Not bad for a 39 year old.
What's the Komets' motivation the rest of the way? If this weekend taught them anything, it's that they're not infallible. They were outplayed early on both nights and they know that can't happen in the playoffs.
- Flint played two men short of a 19-player lineup thanks to eight injuries. Among the wounded: captain Kris Mallette and former Komets defenseman Ryan Jorde.
- Komets great Al Dumba was at the Coliseum to see his son, Flint's Jared Dumba, play.
- Strange play in the second period. Because the puck had been played with a high-stick, neither team wanted to touch it. As everyone stood there for what seemed like an eternity, Flint's Jaroslav Cesky blocking the puck, Fort Wayne's Sergei Durdin checked him to the ice -- and got a penalty for it. First of all, it was the referee's fault for not calling the whole thing dead because no one was going to play it. But Durdin gets a penalty for trying to move the guy out of the way? Silly call by Jim Hawthorne.
- I don't want to hear griping from the Generals about the penalty for too many men they took in overtime. Fort Wayne got the same call with less than three minutes remaining in regulation. Stupid for both teams to get caught at that stage of the game. Both teams' goalies bailed them out.
- Flint's entertaining broadcaster, Denis Puska, made a reference to Lorena Bobbitt on the air, which I thought was, well, weird. He also had this line, when Fort Wayne was down: "It's quieter than a Sunday church service in here. Somebody drop some popcorn or something."
- Interesting article from Prohockeynews.com, which details the strcuture of minor-league hockey and, deservedly, equates the IHL to an independent baseball league.
-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette
No, No, No, S T U P I D call by Jim Hawthorne
Posted by: Burgee | March 15, 2008 at 11:52 PM
What was going on with woods tonite? i dont think i saw him on the ice once! Hawthorne is a horrible ref!
Posted by: Kevin | March 15, 2008 at 11:57 PM
I really Don't think Durdin's call was that bad, his hit was pretty high (I should have been blown dead though) I am curious though why is Durdin even on this team, he takes a lot of dumb penalties and is not a very good defenseman, Great win tonight Komets 20 in a row at home is just amazing. I have a tough choice to make, Luers state finals basketball game or K's next saturday.
Posted by: Ryne Gurney | March 16, 2008 at 12:04 AM
Woods had a sore knee...he was dressed but didn't play
Posted by: Mark | March 16, 2008 at 12:08 AM
Congradulations on the Huber Trophy!
Posted by: scoops | March 16, 2008 at 12:33 AM
whata game!!! shafranov should of done a russian jig after that shootout sickness
Posted by: JW | March 16, 2008 at 01:27 AM
Looks like someone enjoyed an IHL game, correct???? I'm gettin to town as quick as I can tomorrow.
Posted by: Jerad Shaw | March 16, 2008 at 02:04 AM
No fights in 6 games thus weekend-guess guys are tired of fighting the same ones.King-Kong HENLEY is a nice guy off the ice & best of luck to you!!!
Posted by: mightbite | March 16, 2008 at 05:33 AM
We were sitting down on the ice when Durdin got his penalty. He tapped the guy, the guy tapped him back, they both laughed and nodded at each other. Then when the guy turned to the board, Durdin hit him. It was meant in fun, but no one else knew that but the two of them. Durdin just went a little overboard.
Posted by: KrazyKometFan | March 16, 2008 at 08:50 AM
Durdin taking a stupid penalty? I for one am shocked. =)
Fox plays pretty dirty.
It was nice to see Shaf get a goal in the shootout. Flint was hacking at him all night!
Posted by: Jungle Monkey | March 16, 2008 at 09:08 AM
Another disappointing night from Hawthorne. He must have a certain quota of penalties he needs to call and tries to get them all in by the second period so that he can quit watching in the third.
Posted by: dnl | March 16, 2008 at 09:55 AM
oh my buckos man! komets win but still all cried up about the reffs
wise man once said "he who sits on tall toilet is high on pot"
Posted by: ABEATENHORSE | March 16, 2008 at 01:21 PM
Hawthorne = no flow hockey
Posted by: Shawn | March 16, 2008 at 02:29 PM
I'm gonna have to start bringing Maalox to the games if they keep going to shootouts! I was doing the "watching a scary movie through my fingers" thing.
A guy sitting by me last night was abusing the referee and kept calling him Gallagher. I said "Dude, the ref's Hawthorne tonight." He pauses for a second and says "Oh well, doesn't matter, they both suck!" Couldn't argue with that one!
Posted by: FiveMinuteMajor | March 16, 2008 at 02:37 PM
I'm HAPPY now!!!!
Posted by: mightbite | March 16, 2008 at 02:48 PM
Finally made it to florida last night at midnight when we were suppose to be here at 10 am....saturday morning...car troubles made us stay the night in Kentucky..but glad to hear the komets won again.....and on the stats sheet it doesnt have woods listed as if he dressed for the game on saturday night!!! cant wait for the 22nd!!!!!! lets go k's!
Posted by: kometfan | March 16, 2008 at 03:04 PM
also to say the least driving through atlanta looked like a disaster from friday's storms...and then 20 minutes before we got to atlanta saturday another tornado had touched down so the roads were horrible!
Posted by: kometfan | March 16, 2008 at 03:07 PM
Hawthorn calls the game like he is deathly afraid of it getting out of control.
I can understand why the players get upset...there seems to be no rhyme or reason to his style.
As a fan I find it hard to enjoy the games when he gets on a 'roll'
Posted by: stoney85 | March 17, 2008 at 11:44 AM