Fort Wayne, IN-- The Komets extended their winning streak to five games by taking both games of the week and improved to 16-4-0 for an ECHL best 32 points after 20 games. It's only the third time in its 63-year history that Fort Wayne has reached 16 wins in the first 20 games of the season. Fort Wayne's best start after 20 games was a 17-3-0 launch to the 1978-79 season in the old International Hockey League.
Friday the Komets clipped the Cyclones at Cincinnati 3-2 in a shootout. Defenseman James Martin notched his fourth goal of the season, a career high, and forward Mike Embach scored for the Komets in regulation. Shawn Szydlowski and Thomas Frazee marked in the shootout. Goaltender Pat Nagle made 24 saves in regulation and overtime and stopped all four Cincy attempts in the shootout for the win and kept the Komets unbeaten after four shootouts, and unbeaten in five extra-time games this season. It was Nagle's third straight shootout win. Fort Wayne also improves to 9-0-0 in one-goal games. -Gamesheet-
Saturday the Komets upended the Fuel at Indy 5-1 to remain unbeaten in the series 5-0-0 with six meetings remaining against the intrastate rival. Garrett Meurs returned to the Fort Wayne lineup after a brief call-up to Lake Erie of the AHL and scored two goals while Szydlowski, Thomas Frazee and Eric Faille also contributed tallies for the win. Netminder Roman Will, on assignment to Fort Wayne from the NHL's Colorado Avalanche, earned the win making 24 saves in his first ECHL start. -Gamesheet-
The week ahead-- The Komets will skate three games in three nights this weekend beginning with back-to-back games at Evansville (8-9-2, 18 points) Friday and Saturday nights at 8:15pm (ET) each night. It will be the first meetings of the season. Last year the Komets won the series 5-3-1 and were even at 3-3-0 in six visits to the Ford Center. The IceMen are coming off two losses last week and are 3-2-1 in their last six games and trail the first-place Komets in the North Division by 14 points in sixth place. Evansville is idle this week until they host the Komets this weekend.
Sunday the Komets return home to face division rival Toledo (14-3-0, 29 points) at 5pm in the first of six Sunday home tilts. It will be the third of seven meetings this season after the Walleye handed the Komets a 6-3 loss at Huntington Center Nov. 19 in the last meeting. It's Toledo's first of four visits this year. The second-place Walleye are on the Komets heels in the North Division trailing Fort Wayne by three points. Toledo will skate five games in six nights this week. They host Gwinnett Tuesday before hitting the road for games at Wheeling Wednesday and Kalamazoo Friday. Saturday the Walleye return home to host Kalamazoo before traveling to Fort Wayne for a 5pm faceoff Sunday. The hot Walleye are enjoying a five-game win streak entering this week.
Home for the holidays-- The Komets have six home games on tap for the upcoming holiday period. After this Sunday's home affair against Toledo, the Komets will be home for a double-header weekend Saturday, Dec. 20 against Indy and Sunday, Dec. 21 against Evansville. After Christmas, the Komets will host three games in five nights including Friday, Dec. 27, Monday, Dec. 29 and the annual New Year's Eve game Wednesday, Dec. 31.
Wendy's Family Night Sunday-- The Komets present Wendy's Family Night at every Sunday home game this season. Coupons for a Sundays 4-for-$28 ticket offer are available at Wendy's locations around the Fort Wayne area. Also, fans can bring their skates for a free open skate after each Sunday Family Night home game.
Komets Ticket information-- Komets tickets may be purchased at the Coliseum Ticket Office or online at TicketMaster.com. Discounted Group Tickets are also on sale for all Komet home games at the Komet office at 1010 Memorial Way. For more information on Komet single game tickets and group tickets, call 260-483-0011 or visit http://www.komets.com or call 260-483-0011.
Komet streaks-- Komets riding five-game win streak, matching their 5-0-0 start to the season, and a three-game road win streak.....Meurs has a four-game goal and point-scoring streak (6g, 1a).....defenseman James Martin has points in four straight games (2g, 6a).....Embach has a five-game road point and assist streak (2g, 7a).....goaltender Pat Nagle has a three-game winning streak.
Komet leaders-- Szydlowski leads with 10 goals, 21 points and 63 shots.....Martin leads the Komets and ECHL defensemen with 15 assists and leads ECHL defensemen with 19 points.....Drew Daniels leads the ECHL with +17.....Faille leads rookies with eight goals, 11 assists and 19 points. -Komets Teamstats-
Komet Hockey on WOWO Radio and OmniSource Radio Recycle on the web-- Bob Chase is celebrating his 62nd season behind the Komet microphone this year. Follow the Komets on WOWO Radio AM 1190 and FM 92.3. In Chase's absence this Friday and Saturday at Evansville, Shane Albahrani will be covering the play-by-play. All Komet radio broadcasts can also be heard worldwide on the web at Komets.com presented by OmniSource Radio Recycle. Komets on MyTV Saturday from Evansville-- Live telecasts of select Komet road games will be broadcast on Fort Wayne digital and cable channels including digital channel 33.2 and cable channels Comcast SD 18 and 252, Comcast HD 1018, Direct TV 34, Frontier SD 9 and Frontier HD 509 throughout the season. 21Alive's Tommy Schoegler and Kent Hormann handle the play-by-play. MyTV will be on hand for this Saturday's game at Evansville at 8:15pm. The Tilted Kilt is the official watch zone for Komet games on MyTV. Komet fans are invited to watch all of the MyTV game broadcasts at the Tilted Kilt Pub and Eatery in Jefferson Pointe on Illinois Road.
Sound Off with the Komets on 21Alive Monday nights-- The Komets, 21Alive and SportONE/Parkview Icehouse present Sound Off with the Komets, a live weekly telecast each Monday night at 7:30. The show airs on WPTA TV 21Alive from the SportONE/Parkview Icehouse, 3869 Ice Way in Fort Wayne, featuring highlights, interviews and call-ins. Komet players and personnel will serve as co-hosts with 21Alive's Tommy Schoegler. Tonight, Dec. 8,defenseman Cody Sol will be Tommy's guest. All Komet fans are welcome to attend.
KOMETS WEEKLY PLANNERKomet games this weekFriday, Dec. 12..............Komets at Evansville IceMen, 8:15pm ET, WOWO AM 1190 and FM 92.3Saturday, Dec. 13..........Komets at Evansville IceMen, 8:15pm ET, WOWO AM 1190 and FM 92.3; MyTVSunday, Dec. 14............Toledo Walleye at Komets, 5pm ET, WOWO AM 1190 and FM 92.3Komet practice scheduleTuesday, Dec. 9............Practice 10am-11:30am at SportONE/Parkview IcehouseWednesday, Dec. 10.....Practice 10am-11:30am at SportONE/Parkview IcehouseThursday, Dec. 11.........Practice 10am-11:30am at SportONE/Parkview IcehouseFriday, Dec. 12..............Practice 10am-10:30am at SportONE/Parkview IcehouseTuesday, Dec. 16..........Practice 10am-11:30am at the Coliseum-Komets Schedule/Results-