Nailers visit Saturday, Solar Bears here Sunday

Fort Wayne, IN-- The Komets gained five points in four games (2-1-1) for week nine of 2016-17 and improved to 13-6-3 and 29 points. Fort Wayne trails first-place Toledo by seven points in the Central division of the Western Conference after 22 games.-ECHL Standings-The Komets started the busy week earning a point in a 5-4 overtime loss at Toledo Tuesday. The Walleye mounted a 4-1 lead before the Komets rallied with three unanswered goals to force overtime by Garrett Thompson, Shawn Szydlowski and David Friedmann, who also scored the first Fort Wayne goal of the game. Goaltender Garrett Bartus suffered the overtime loss after entering the game in relief of Eric Hartzell.-Gamesheet-Wednesday the Komets blanked the Cyclones at Cincinnati 2-0 to even the season series at 1-1-0. Mason Baptista scored the game winner while Mike Cazzola also added a marker. Bartus earned his second career ECHL shutout and first of the season stopping all 23 shots faced.-Gamesheet-Friday the Komets returned home to double-up the visiting Kalamazoo Wings 4-2 and extend their home winning streak to three games. Thompson scored the first goal of the game to extend his home point-scoring streak to three games (2g, 3a). Kyle Follmer scored his second goal as a Komet, Cazzola added the game winner before Szydlowski netted his team-leading 13th goal of the campaign for a three-game home goal and point-scoring streak (4g, 5a). Bartus earned the win in his third straight appearance making 25 saves on 27 shots. -Gamesheet-

Saturday, with eight players missing from the season-starting lineup due to call-ups and injuries, the Komets battled to a 2-1 setback at Kalamazoo. Forward Devin Mantha, playing in his sixth Fort Wayne game, scored his first Komet goal in the first period to give Fort Wayne a 1-0 lead at the intermission. The Wings answered with a goal in the second period and one in the third to take their second win in five meetings with Fort Wayne this season. -Gamesheet-For the week, the Komets outscored their opponents 11-9, were 2/14 on the power play while stopping 11 of 15 man advantages. Szydlowski lead the Komets in the four games played with two goals and five assists for a seven-point week. Netminder Garrett Bartus appeared in three games, allowed four goals for a 1.53 goals-against average and stopped 66 of 70 shots for a .943 save percentage while logging his first shutout of the season.Komet leaders-- Shawn Szydlowski leads with 13 goals, 16 assists and 29 points and dished one power play assist to lead with five power play assists....Mike Cazzola scored Friday's game winning goal to lead with three game winners.....Cody Sol leads with +21 and 83 penalty minutes.-Teamstats-

The week ahead-- The Komets will skate three games in three nights this weekend. Week 10 sends the Komets to Wheeling Friday for the first of a home-and-home series against the Nailers. Saturday the Komets host Wheeling at 7:30pm and cap the week by welcoming Orlando Sunday at 5pm.-Komets schedule-Friday, Dec. 16, Komets at Wheeling Nailers (11-8-2, 24 points), 7:35pm-- The Komets head for Wheeling, West Virginia Friday for a 7:35pm faceoff at the WesBanco Arena (5,200) to kickoff a home-and-home series against the Nailers. It's the only trip of the season to Wheeling. It will be the first of five meetings this year and the first meeting since the Komets clipped the Nailers 1-0 in overtime in Fort Wayne last year on March 23, the only meeting of the season. Fort Wayne is 4-4-2 all time after 10 previous meetings with Wheeling. The Nailers hold fifth place in the North division of the Eastern Conference and trail first place Manchester by eight points. Last season Wheeling advanced to the ECHL Kelly Cup Finals against Allen. The Americans took the series and the championship four games to two. The Nailers lost both games of a two game series at Brampton last weekend and are 2-4-1 in their last nine outings. Wheeling will host Orlando Wednesday before hosting the Komets Friday.

Saturday, Dec. 17, Wheeling Nailers at Komets, 7:30pm-- The Komets and Nailers return to Fort Wayne Saturday after Friday night's game at Wheeling for a 7:30pm start. It's the first of four visits by the Nailers to Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne this year. Wheeling will return for a game in February and a visit for back-to-back games in March. The Komets are 8-2-0 after 10 home games while the Nailers will arrive in Fort Wayne with an even 5-5-0 road record after 10.

Sunday, Dec. 18, Orlando Solar Bears (14-7-2, 30 points) at Komets, 5pm-- The Komets will host the Solar Bears Sunday at 5pm for the only meeting of the season with Orlando. Last year the Komets won the only meeting of the campaign 5-2 when the Bears visited on Jan. 15. Orlando trails first place Florida by three points in the race for the top spot in the South division of the Eastern Conference. The Solar Bears bagged a pair of wins at Atlanta over the weekend and are 3-2-0 in their last five games but 9-2-1 in their last dozen. Orlando continues their 10-game road tour with games at Wheeling Wednesday and at Kalamazoo Friday and Saturday before hitting Sweetwater Ice at the Memorial Coliseum Sunday afternoon.

Meijer Family Night Sunday-- The Komets present Meijer Family Night at every Sunday home game this season. Coupons for a Sunday 4-for-$36 ticket offer are available at all Meijer locations around the Fort Wayne area. Also, fans can bring their skates for a free open skate after each Sunday Meijer Family Night home game.

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 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.