Komets blast Solar Bears 7-1, Cazzola nets hat

Fort Wayne, IN-- The Komets earned four points in three games played for week 10 of 2016-17 and improved to 15-7-3 and 33 points to maintain third place in the Central division of the Western Conference, trailing second place Tulsa by one point and first-place Toledo by 11 points.

The Komets started the week with a 6-5 setback at Wheeling Friday night in the opening game of a home-and-home series against the Nailers. The Komets posted a 4-0 lead by the midway point of the game on goals by Bobby Shea, Mike Cazzola, Jamie Schaafsma and Kyle Thomas before the Nailers rallied with four unanswered goals to tie the game 4-4 with 12:47 remaining in the third period. Cody Sol gave the Komets the lead once again at 8:40 of the final stanza before Wheeling answered with two goals by Adam Krause, including an empty netter, to steal the victory. Netminder Eric Hartzell fell to 7-7-2 on the season making 34 saves in his second straight start.-Gamesheet-

Saturday in the back-end of the home-and-home series the Komets never trailed in a 4-3 home win over Wheeling after posting a 3-0 lead in the first period on goals by Cazzola, Brady Vail, and Thomas. Former Komet Garrett Meurs put the Nailers on the board in the second period before Thomas scored his second of the night for a 4-1 Fort Wayne lead. Wheeling rallied with two markers by Andrew Ammon and Cody Wydo but the Komets prevailed with the win to even the season series at 1-1-0 with three meetings remaining, all in Fort Wayne. Garrett Bartus earned the win in the Fort Wayne net allowing three goals on 29 shots.-Gamesheet-Sunday the Komets pounded the visiting Orlando Solar Bears 7-1 in the only meeting of the season and extended their home winning streak to five games. It was the most goals for Fort Wayne in a game this year and the largest margin for a win. The last time the Komets reached seven goals in a game was on March 12, 2016, an 8-2 win at Alaska. Cazzola registered his first pro hat trick Sunday and added two assists for a five-point evening. Schaafsma dished four assists while Garrett Desjardins, Shea, Thomas and Szydlowski each contributed goals. Szydlowski also passed two assists for his fourth three-point night of the season. Goaltender Bartus earned his fourth straight win making 21 saves on 22 shots and is unbeaten in five straight appearances (4-0-1).-Gamesheet-For the week, Mike Cazzola led the Komets with four goals and five assists for a nine-point week, Jamie Schaafsma scored a goal and added seven assists for eight points, Shawn Szydlowski added a goal to six assists for seven points, Kyle Thomas scored four goals, two assists and six points, Bobby Shea had a pair of goals and three points and Brady Vail also bagged three points with a goal and two assists. Garrett Bartus appeared in two games (120 minutes) going 2-0-0 with four goals-against and a 2.00 goals-against average, stopped 47 of 51 shots for a .922 save percentage. Bartus improved to 4-0-1, an overall 2.25 goals-against average and .911 save percentage.

Komet streaks-- Komets have a five-game home winning streak.....Goaltender Garrett Bartus is riding a four-game win streak.....Mike Cazzola has goals and points in three straight games (5g, 4a) and a three-game home point-scoring streak (5g, 3a)....Shawn Szydlowski has a three-game assist and point streak (1g, 6a) and a five-game home point-scoring streak (5g, 9a) while posting a four-game home assist streak (7a).....Jamie Schaafsma has a three-game assist and point streak (1g, 7a).....Kyle Thomas has a three-game goal and point streak (4g, 2a) and a three-game home assist and point streak (3g, 4a)....Brady Vail has scored at least a point in each Fort Wayne home game he has appeared in for a three-game home point streak (3g, 2a).Komet leaders-- Szydlowski and Thomas lead with 14 goals apiece...Szydlowski leads with 22 assists and 36 points...Thomas leads with five power play goals....Cazzola leads with three game winners....Cody Sol leads with 92 penalty minutes...Sol and Curtis Leonard lead with +19.-Komets teamstats-

Home for the holidays-- The Komets will skate at Quad City Wednesday and then host the Brampton Beast Friday on Sweetwater Ice at the Memorial Coliseum before taking a three-day break for Christmas. Fort Wayne returns from the Christmas break to host three holiday games in five nights starting Tuesday, Dec. 27 when the Indy Fuel visit. Thursday, Dec. 29 the Cincinnati Cyclones are in town and Saturday, Dec. 31 the Komets host the traditional New Year's Eve game against the Toledo Walleye.-Komets schedule-

Week 11:Wednesday, Dec. 21, Komets at Quad City Mallards (15-8-2, 32 points), 7:35pm ET-- The Komets will begin Week 11 with a faceoff at 7:35pm Fort Wayne time Wednesday at Quad City's iWireless Center (5,100). The high-flying Mallards are on the Komets' heels in the Central division. The third place Komets lead Quad City by one point at the 25-game mark for each team. The Komets have won their last two outings and are 6-2-1 in their last nine while the Mallards are riding a four-game win streak, five game unbeaten streak (4-0-1) and are 8-2-1 in their last 11. Quad City is coming off a four-game road trip and will be home Wednesday for the first time since Dec. 7. It will be the fourth meeting between the Komets and Mallards this season with the Komets leading the series 3-1-0 after a 6-2 loss Nov. 26 in Fort Wayne in the last meeting.

Friday, Dec. 23, Brampton Beast (14-8-3, 31 points) at Komets, 8pm-- Former Komet fan favorite Colin Chaulk has his Beast in Brampton rolling with a 7-2-0 record in their last nine games and is making a bid in the run for first place in the North division of the Eastern Conference, trailing first-place Manchester by five points after 25 games. Brampton started a seven-game road tour with a 3-0 win at Adirondack last Saturday and will skate a pair of games at Indy Tuesday and Thursday before making the trip to Fort Wayne Friday. It will be the second of five meetings this season after the Komets were clipped by the Beast in overtime 5-4 Nov. 6 in Fort Wayne. After Friday, the next three meetings will all be in Brampton to close out the season series.

Save those valuable unused Komet tickets-- This Friday the Komets will host Brampton for the final home game until after the Christmas break. It will be one of many Season Ticket Recycling Nights this season. Komet Season Ticket Holders will be able to exchange any unused Komet tickets from previously scheduled home games this year for tickets to the game Saturday against Brampton. 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 this Friday when the Komets face the Beast from Brampton.Komets announce Equipment Sale-- Prior to and during the Komet home game Dec. 29 with Cincinnati, the Komets will hold a new and used hockey equipment and skate sale in the Century Club room located just north of the Komet locker room in the Coliseum. Skates, protective equipment and sticks will all be sold at discounted prices.

Komets on the air-- Komet games are scheduled to air this season on WOWO AM 1190 and FM 107.5 with Shane Albahrani calling the play-by-play. All Komet radio broadcasts can also be heard worldwide as presented by Omni Source Radio Recycle at www.komets.com.

Single game and group tickets on sale-- Single game tickets for all Komet home games are on sale at the Coliseum Ticket Office, online at TicketMaster.com, or at the Komet office at 1010 Memorial Way. Also, Group Night packages are available for Family, Business or Civic Group outings. For more information visit Komets.com or call 260-483-0011.