Komets move into Eastern Conference lead

Fort Wayne, IN-- The Komets skated three home games in four nights for week 19 going 2-0-1 for five points and improving to 35-12-4 and 74 points to lead the ECHL Eastern Conference with seven weeks remaining. At 51 games the 2014-15 Komets become the second fastest team in Fort Wayne's history to reach 74 points. The 1959-60 edition logged 74 points in 50 games.

The week began Wednesday with the Komets earning a point in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Toledo Walleye. Christian Ouellet scored the lone Fort Wayne goal unassisted. Netminder Pat Nagle remained unbeaten in regulation at home three straight games making 25 saves on 26 shots. It was Nagle's first shootout loss in five this season. The Komets are even at 2-2-2 after six meetings with Toledo this season. The Komets will finish the season series when the division rival Walleye return March 13.-Gamesheet-

Friday the Komets opened a two-game home stand against the Gwinnett Gladiators with 2-1 victory at the Memorial Coliseum. J.M. Rizk returned to the Fort Wayne lineup after a trade with Rapid City to score the first goal of the game. Mike Embach also marked while goaltender Roman Will posted his third straight win making 24 saves. -Gamesheet-Saturday, in front of a PHP Report Card Night crowd of 8,189, the Komets rallied from a 2-0 deficit to grab a 3-2 win and take the season series against the Gladiators 3-0-0. Brock Higgs put the Komets on the board with his first goal, a power play tally, since joining the Komets. Quellet also scored on the power play to even the game at 2-2. Cody Sol scored his fifth goal of the season for the eventual game winner. Nagle collected his second win of the week and 20th of the season. Nagle extended his home unbeaten streak to four games (3-0-1) stopping 19 of 21 shots. The Komets extended their point streak to five games (4-0-1) and home point streak to six games (5-0-1).-Gamesheet-Milestones-- Friday night against Gwinnett Embach skated his 100th Fort Wayne career regular season game and Matt Lowry appeared in his 200th regular season pro game.Komet leaders-- Embach leads with 32 assists, 52 points and 156 shots.....Szydlowski leads with 22 goals.....Drew Daniels leads the ECHL with +32 and ranks third among ECHL defensemen with 26 assists.....Nagle leads with 20 wins and 2.35 goals-against average....Will leads with .921 save percentage.-Komets Teamstats-Points lately-- Quellet has points in five of his last seven games (3g, 3a).....Brett Perlini has points in seven of the last 10 (6g, 5a).....Kyle Thomas has points in four of the last seven (2g, 4a).....Embach has points in seven of his last eight (3g, 5a).

One-goal games-- Four of the last six games have been decided by one a one-goal margin (2-1-1). The Komets are 17-4-4 after 25 one-goal games this season. 13 one-goal games have ended during regulation (9-4). The Komets have been in nine shootouts (6-3) and have finished three games in overtime (2-1).

On the rebound-- The Komets followed their shootout loss on Wednesday with two straight victories Friday and Saturday. The Komets are 14-2-0 when following their 16 total losses. The Komets are 3-0-0 following each of their three shootout losses and 1-0-0 following their only overtime loss this season.

The week ahead-- The Komets will repeat with another week of three home games (Wednesday, Friday and Saturday) in four nights. This week North Division and intrastate rivals Evansville and Indy visit. Wednesday former Komet head coach Al Sims and his Evansville IceMen (13-33-6, 32 points) invade the Memorial Coliseum at 7:30pm. The Komets lead the season series 6-1-0 after a 6-2 home win against Evansville in the last meeting Jan. 16. The IceMen snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 7-3 win at Kalamazoo Saturday. Evansville will complete the season series when they return April 1.

The Indy Fuel (20-23-8, 48 points) will complete their season visits with games Friday (8pm) and Saturday (7:30pm). The Komets are unbeaten by the Fuel after seven meetings and have two trips to Indy remaining on the schedule. Indy trails fourth-place Kalamazoo and a playoff spot by three points with 21 games remaining. Indy has points in 16 of its last 18 games (14-2-2), is 6-1-1 in the last eight and 1-1-1 in the last three. The Fuel will host Kalamazoo Wednesday before making the trip north to Fort Wayne this weekend.OmniSource Season Ticket Recycling Night Wednesday-- Season ticket holders have a chance to exchange their unused season tickets from previous games of the season for tickets to see the Komets face Evansville this Wednesday night, compliments of OmniSource.

Friday night Marathon Nights-- Fans can earn a buy-one-get-one-free ticket offer with the purchase of three fill-ups at any participating Marathon location. Save with your Marathon Fill-Up Card this Friday when the Komets host Indy.

Komets Ticket information-- Komets tickets may be purchased at the Coliseum Ticket Office or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Discounted Group Tickets are also on sale for all Komet home games at the Komet office at 1010 Memorial Way. 2015-15 Season Tickets go on sale at the Komet office next week. For ticket information call 260-483-0011 or visit www.komets.com.

Komet Hockey on WOWO Radio and OmniSource Radio Recycle on the web-- Follow the Komets on WOWO Radio AM 1190 and FM 92.3 with Bob Chase radio-rinkside. All Komet radio broadcasts can also be heard worldwide on the web at Komets.com presented by OmniSource Radio Recycle.

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 serve as co-hosts with 21Alive's Tommy Schoegler. Tonight, Monday, Feb. 23, forward Brett Perlini will be Tommy's guest. All Komet fans are welcome to attend.

KOMETS WEEKLY PLANNERWednesday, Feb. 25.....Evansville IceMen at Komets, 7:30pm ET, WOWO AM 1190 and FM 92.3Friday, Feb. 27..............Indy Fuel at Komets, 8pm ET, WOWO AM 1190 and FM 92.3Saturday, Feb. 28.........Indy Fuel at Komets, 7:30pm ET, WOWO AM 1190 and FM 92.3-Komets Schedule/Results-

Komet practice scheduleTuesday, Feb. 24..........Practice 10am-11:30am at the ColiseumWednesday, Feb. 25.....Practice 10am-10:45am at the ColiseumThursday, Feb. 26.........Practice 10:30am-11:30am at the ColiseumFriday, Feb. 27..............Practice 10am-10:45am at the ColiseumSaturday, Feb. 28..........Practice 10am-10:45am at the ColiseumMonday, Mar. 2.............Practice 10am-11:30am at SportONE/Parkview Icehouse