Komets earn 8-point sweep of week 14

Fort Wayne, IN-- The Komets were undefeated in week 14 of 2015-16 mounting a four-game win streak and improving to 22-11-2 and 46 points. The Komets hold first place in the Midwest Division and have increased their lead over second-place Quad City to five points heading into week 15.

Wednesday the Komets upended the Cyclones at Cincinnati 4-1. After spotting Cincy the first goal of the game the Komets scored four unanswered goals for the win. Garrett Thompson, Shawn Szydlowski, Mike Embach and Joe Perry each tallied for Fort Wayne while goaltender Pat Nagle earned the win making 30 saves on 31 shots. The Komets improved to 2-1-0 after three visits to Cincinnati and are 2-3-0 overall with five meetings remaining.

Friday the Komets began a three-game home weekend stopping Orlando 5-2 in the only meeting of the season. For the third straight game the Komets surrendered the first goal of the game. For the second straight game the Komets rallied with four unanswered goals by Garrett Meurs, Alex Belzile, Brett Perlini and Nikita Kashirksy. Embach added a fifth marker to seal the win as Nagle grabbed the win on 27 saves.

Saturday the Komets blanked Rapid City 1-0 in the first of back-to-back home games against the Rush. It was the fifth shutout of the season for Fort Wayne and Nagle's third as the netminder stopped all 21 shots faced. Perlini scored the only goal needed for the Komets at 16:27 of the third period.

Sunday the Komets completed a sweep of the week's games with a 3-1 win over Rapid City, taking a 2-0-0 season series lead with two meetings remaining at Rapid City in March. Perry, Thompson and Kyle Thomas each found the net to give the Komets their fourth-straight win. Nagle improved to 16-6-2 making 26 saves for his fourth straight win and an unbeaten streak of eight games (7-0-1). Nagle has a run of 11-1-1 after 13 straight starts and ranks eighth among ECHL goaltenders with an overall goals-against average of 2.05. For the week Nagle was 4-0-0 and stopped 104 of 108 shots for a 1.00 goals-against average and .963 save percentage.

Komet leaders-- Mike Embach 15 goals, nine power play goals (ECHL high), 34 points.....Shawn Szydlowski 20 assists.....Drew Daniels +13.....Cody Sol 95 penalty minutes.

Streaking Komets-- Komets have a four-game win streak and eight-game home unbeaten streak (7-0-1).....Brett Perlini has an 11-game point-streak (5g, 9a) and an eight-game home point-scoring streak (4g, 6a).....Shawn Szydlowski has a four-game point and assist streak (1g, 4a).....goaltender Pat Nagle has started 13 straight games (11-1-1) and is riding a four-game win streak and eight-game home unbeaten streak 7-0-1).

Special K's-- The Komets were 3/12 on the power play last week and rank first in the ECHL with an overall 24.1% (33/137) power play rating. The Komets rank third on the penalty kill with an overall rating of 87.3% (131/150) and were a perfect 17/17 on the penalty kill for the week, extending their penalty kill streak to 23 straight kills.

The week ahead-- The Komets will skate three road games in three nights this weekend starting with a pair of games at Cincinnati Friday and Saturday. Sunday the Komets visit intrastate rival Indy. The Komets next home game is Friday Jan. 29 when Cincinnati visits for an 8pm start.

Friday, Jan. 22, Komets (22-11-2, 46 points) at Cincinnati Cyclones (16-15-5, 37 points), 7:35pm-- The Komets will face the division rival Cyclones at Cincinnati for back-to-back games starting Friday at 7:35pm. The Komets trail 2-3-0 in the season series but are 2-1-0 after three visits to the U.S. Bank Arena (6,955). Friday's game is the sixth of 10 meetings this year. Cincy plays at Allen in a Monday matinee today before return home to host the Komets Friday. The Cyclones were winless in five games (0-4-1) before earning a 4-3 shootout win at Allen Sunday and trail the Komets in the Midwest Division by nine points.

Saturday, Jan. 23, Komets at Cincinnati, 7:35pm-- The Komets complete their two-game visit at Cincinnati Saturday at 7:35pm. It's their sixth of seven visits this season.

Sunday, Jan. 24, Komets at Indy Fuel (18-20-2, 38 points), 3:05pm-- Sunday the Komets make their fourth of five trips to Indy where they are 2-1-0 after three visits this season. The Komets lead the season series 5-1-1 after a 2-1 New Year's Day victory at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum (6,488). The division rival Fuel enter week 15 trailing the first-place Komets by eight points. Indy will host Quad City for a pair of games Friday and Saturday before welcoming the Komets Sunday.

OmniSource Season Ticket Recycling Night Friday, Jan. 29-- Friday night, Jan. 29, season ticket holders will have another chance to exchange unused season tickets from previous games of the season for tickets to see the Komets face the Cincinnati Cyclones at 8:00, compliments of OmniSource.Friday night Marathon Nights-- Again this year Komet fans can save on their Friday night tickets with Marathon. 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 at the game Friday, Jan. 29 when the Komets host the Cincinnati Cyclones.

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 and FM 107.5 with Bob Chase calling most of the games radio-rinkside in his 63rd consecutive season. This week's road games at Cincinnati and Indy will be handled by Shane Albahrani. All Komet radio broadcasts can also be heard worldwide as presented by Omni Source Radio Recycle at www.komets.com. 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. Tonight Komet broadcaster Bob Chase will be the guest.