Fort Wayne, IN-- The Komets split a home-and-home series with the Kalamazoo Wings for the week, starting with a 2-1 victory at Kalamazoo Friday. Saturday the Wings turned the tables on the Komets in Fort Wayne 4-1.
David Friedmann and Kyle Thomas scored the only two goals needed for the Friday win at Kalamazoo. Goalie Pat Nagle earned his third straight win stopping 33 of 34 shots.-Gamesheet-
Saturday, after a scoreless first period, the Komets allowed three unanswered goals by the Wings in the second period to go into the second intermission trailing 3-0. In the third period Friedmann finally solved Kalamazoo netminder Nick Riopel with a power play tally at 10:50. Fort Wayne pulled goaltender Eric Hartzell with 3:30 remaining in the game, but Kalamazoo found the empty net to cap a 4-1 win over the Komets at the Memorial Coliseum in front of 7,254. Dating back to last year, It was the first Kalamazoo win over the Komets in six games. Hartzell suffered the loss in his first appearance of the season making 28 saves on 31 shots. Seven meetings remain between the Komets and Wings for the year. The Komets and Kalamazoo next meet on Thanksgiving night in Fort Wayne.-Gamesheet-
The Komets enter the third week of 2016-17 with a 3-1-0 record and six points, trailing first-place Toledo by a pair of points in the Central Division. -Standings-
Komet leaders-- Mike Cazzola leads with four assists and five points.....Jamie Schaafsma, Brady Vail and David Friedmann lead with two goals each.....Jason Binkley and Vail each lead with +3.....Brent Tate leads with 16 penalty minutes.-Teamstats-
Streaking Komets-- Netminder Nagle enters the week unbeaten at 3-0-0.....Thomas has points in each of the four games played to start the season (1g, 3a).
Special K's-- The Komets have managed a streak of 12 straight penalty kills and have an overall penalty kill rating of 88.9% (16/18). The Komets are ranked third on the power play at 3/11 and 27.3%.
This week: Allen Americans at Komets Friday at 8pm-- On two occasions this year the Komets have only one game scheduled during the week, the week ahead and the week of Nov. 14. This week the defending ECHL champion Allen Americans make their only visit of the year at 8pm Friday. It will be only the second time the two teams have met during the regular season. The first regular season meeting between the Komets and the Americans was Feb. 18, 2011 when the Komets dropped a 3-2 shootout in Fort Wayne in a CHL game. Friday's game will be the first meeting since May 22 when the Americans eliminated the Komets 4 games to one in Allen during the 2016 ECHL Western Conference Finals.
Allen is looking to push their championship run to five straight seasons. After eliminating the Komets in the third round last year, the Americans toppled the Wheeling Nailers 4 games to 2 for the Kelly Cup Championship. Allen had won three straight CHL Presidents' Cup championships before joining the ECHL last season. The Americans are 3-1-0 for six points after four games and are tied with Utah for first place in the Mountain Division of the Western Conference. Allen skates at Tulsa Tuesday before traveling to Fort Wayne for Friday night's tilt against the Komets.
See the Komets Tuesday at Tilted Kilt Pub and Eatery in Jefferson Pointe. Komet legendary mascot Icy D. Eagle will be on hand with several Komet players for photos, autographs, great food, friends and fun! Also meet Komet captain and player-assistant coach Jamie Schaafsma along with forward Mike Embach and goaltender Pat Nagle.
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 participating Marathon locations. Save with your Marathon Fill-Up Card at the first Marathon Night of the season this Friday when the Allen Americans visit for an 8pm faceoff on Sweetwater Ice at the Memorial Coliseum.
Kids Seat Free-- Once again this season the Komets will feature Kids Seat Free Nights. The first Kids Seat Free Night of the season is slated for this Friday when Allen visits courtesy Aunt Millie's, Parkview Health and the Komets. Any child under the age of 12 can see the game for free with a full-priced adult ticket purchase.
Komets on the air-- Komet games are scheduled to air this season on WOWO AM 1190 and FM 107.5. All Komet radio broadcasts can also be heard worldwide as presented by Omni Source Radio Recycle at www.komets.com.
Single game tickets and Season Tickets on sale-- Single game tickets for all Komet home games are on sale at the Coliseum Ticket Office and online at TicketMaster.com. Season tickets continue to be on sale at the Komet office at 1010 Memorial Way in Fort Wayne. For more information visit Komets.com or call 260-483-0011.