Komets wrap Christmas week with pair of wins

Fort Wayne, IN-- The Komets extended their win streak to three games by winning both games played during the week of Christmas and improved to 14-10-1 and 29 points after 25 games.

The Komets move to within one point of second-place Cincinnati and trail first-place Quad City by four points in the Midwest Division of the ECHL's Western Conference after 11 weeks.

Monday the Komets shut out the visiting Atlanta Gladiators 4-0 for their third shutout of the year. Gabriel Beaupre and Garrett Meurs each had a goal while Joe Perry notched his first two-goal game of the season and sixth as a pro. Goaltender Pat Nagle snagged his first shutout of the year and sixth pro shutout (counting playoffs) on 21 saves. -Gamesheet-

-ECHL TV Highlights-

Saturday the Komets returned from a four-day holiday break and pleased a Fort Wayne crowd of 7,214 with a 5-2 victory against the Kalamazoo Wings. Komet goals were scored by five different skaters including Kyle Thomas, Alex Belzile, Mike Embach, Shawn Szydlowski and Garrett Thompson. Defenseman Drew Daniels returned from the reserve list and dished a pair of assists. Nagle earned his third straight win in as many starts and improved to 8-5-1 making 21 saves on 23 shots. The Komets moved to 5-1-0 against Kalamazoo after six meetings and have two meetings remaining.-Gamesheet-

-ECHLTV Highlights-

Streaking Komets-- While the Komets are riding a three-game win streak they are 7-3-1 in the last 11 games and 5-2-1 for December.....Brett Perlini has a seven-game point-scoring streak (3g, 7a).....Belzile has points in six consecutive games (1g, 7a) and a six-game assist streak.....Embach is on a four-game point streak (3g, 2a)....Thompson has a three-game assist and point streak (1g, 4a).....Nikita Kashirsky has a three-game point streak (1g, 2a).

THE WEEK AHEAD

The Komets will skate four games in five nights this New Year's holiday week as they finish 2015 and welcome in 2016.

Brampton Beast (8-15-3, 19 points) at Komets (14-10-1, 29 points) Tuesday, 7:30pm-- Tuesday the Komets will host Brampton for the second and final time this season at 7:30pm. The Komets battled back the Beast 5-1 Dec. 19 in Fort Wayne to even the season series at 1-1-0. Brampton has been idle since Dec. 19 and will return to action hosting Reading today (Sunday) and Monday before traveling to Fort Wayne Tuesday.

Indy Fuel (12-15-2, 26 points) at Komets Thursday, 7:30pm-- Thursday division rival the Indy Fuel visit for the traditional Fort Wayne New Year's Eve game at 7:30pm. Indy will try to avenge last year's 6-3 New Year's Eve loss in Fort Wayne. The Komets have won the last two New Year's Eve games and are 11-1-1 in the last 13 when ringing out the old year. Thursday's match will be the 59th Komet home New Year's Eve game since the first one in 1955 when the Komets topped the Troy Bruins 3-2 in the old IHL. Overall, the Komets are 39-14-5 on New Year's eve at home. It's also the sixth of 11 meetings this season with the Komets holding a 3-1-1 series edge over the Fuel. Indy trails the Komets by only three points in the Midwest Division going into their home game today against division leader Quad City. The Fuel skate at Cincinnati Tuesday before making the trip to Fort Wayne New Year's Eve.

Komets at Indy Fuel Friday, 7:35pm-- Friday the Komets begin the New Year with a five-game road tour spanning a period of two weeks when they visit Indy for a 7:30pm faceoff on New Year's day at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum (6,488). It's the third of five trips to the state capital this year where the Komets are 1-1-0 after two visits. It's the first New Year's Day game for the Komets since 2011 when they spoiled the holiday for the Gems at Dayton 4-3 in a shootout.

Komets at Toledo Walleye (17-7-4, 38 points) Saturday, 7:15pm-- The Komets cap the busy week with a 7:15pm tilt at the Huntington Center (7,431) in Toledo Saturday. The Walleye lead the North Division of the Eastern Conference. The Komets lead the season series 2-1-0 with both wins on Fort Wayne ice. The Komets fell 6-4 on their last visit to Toledo Nov. 21 but won the last meeting 1-0 in overtime in Fort Wayne Nov. 28. The Walleye will host Elmira Wednesday and skate at Cincinnati New Year's Eve before welcoming the Komets Saturday.

4 for 55-- This Tuesday fans can take advantage of the Komets' "4-for-55" special Family 4-Pack Ticket Offer when the Komets host Brampton. Get four upper arena tickets, four hot dogs, four soft drinks and four chips for only $55!

Get your tickets early-- Tickets for Komet home games are on sale at the Coliseum Ticket Office and online at TicketMaster.com. Discounted Group tickets are also on sale for all Komet home games at the Komet office at 1010 Memorial Way. Call the 260-483-0011 or visit komets.com for more information.

Komets on the air-- Komet games are scheduled to be aired on WOWO AM 1190, FM 92.3 and FM 107.5 with Bob Chase calling the action radio-rinkside in his 63rd consecutive season. All Komet radio broadcasts can also be heard worldwide as presented by Omni Source Radio Recycle at www.komets.com. This Friday, Jan. 1 Shane Albahrani will be substituting for Bob when the Komets skate at Indy.Happy Birthday Bob! -- The Komets will honor Bob Chase on Sunday, Jan. 17 when Rapid City visits for a 5pm faceoff. Chase will be celebrating his 90th birthday in January and Komet fans can be part of the special celebration. Soundoff With The Komets continues this year on 21Alive in Fort Wayne. The 30-minute live telecast is hosted by Tommy Schoegler from SportOne/Parkview IceHouse each Monday night at 7:30 throughout the season. This Monday, Dec. 28 forward Garrett Thompson will be the guest.