Hurricanes’ Komisarek sees every day as a work in progress

Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network
Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network

RALEIGH, N.C. – Following the morning skate before the Carolina Hurricanes faced off in their final preseason game against the visiting Buffalo Sabres at PNC Arena on Friday, defenseman Mike Komisarek summed up his mindset heading into it.

“I think going into tonight you want to end the preseason on a good note and feel good about our games, ourselves, our team,” Komisarek said.

“Every day is a work in progress. You just wanna’ finish off with a win and show that the work pays off.”

Since beginning training camp, the veteran defenseman has focused on not only acclimating to a new team by getting to know his teammates personally, but more importantly learning how each of them plays his game.

“It’s more about details of the game and consistency – trying to find your rhythm – stuff like that,” Komisarek said.

“You want to be in good position – good sticks – just all little details that we work with our coaches on every day.  I’m working. I didn’t play a lot last year.”

Komisarek has been in the NHL long enough to understand that he has to wait to get the opportunity to show that he can play regularly in the league, but seize it when it comes.

“As a player, you come into preseason wanting to get into as many places in games as possible to put that positive foot forward,” he said.

“But at the same time, be able to work those kinks out and work on your game a little bit.”

As he logged just under 19 minutes of playing time against the Sabres, an eventual 1-0 shutout win, his play didn’t go unnoticed by head coach Kirk Muller.

“I was really pleased with Mike tonight,” Muller said.

“This guy maybe played, tops, 10 games last year. He missed a lot. We’ve gotta’ build his confidence back up, but he’s a good team guy. I thought tonight was a good game for him to come in and just play – do his job and play steady – and be a part of it. That was good.”

It seems that Komisarek’s outlook earlier in the day ended up the way he wanted it to for both himself and the Hurricanes.

They finished the preseason on a three-game winning streak and were understandably feeling good about it afterwards.