Wings visit Friday for Star Wars Night

Fort Wayne, IN-- The Komets swept both games of a weekend double-header in Fort Wayne and improved to 11-5-2 and 24 points after 18 games. The Komets move into third place in the Central division of the Western Conference and trail first-place Tulsa by eight points. Fort Wayne has five games in hand over the league-leading Oilers heading into week nine of 2016-17.-Standings-

Friday the Komets rallied for a fantastic finish, scoring five unanswered goals to take a 6-5 overtime win from the visiting Missouri Mavericks. The Komets scored four straight goals in the third period to force overtime including two markers in 14 seconds by Mike Embach and Kyle Thomas for the fastest two goals this season, and both with goaltender Eric Hartzell pulled for the extra attacker. It was the third four-goal period this season for Fort Wayne and first overtime win. Garrett Thompson led the third period charge with a goal and two assists for his first three-point performance of the season. The Komets directed a season-high 47 shots at the Missouri net and allowed a season-low 16 shots. The Komets finished the season series with Missouri sweeping the Mavs 3-0-0.-Gamesheet-Sunday the Komets doubled-up the visiting Utah Grizzlies 4-2 to cap the weekend sweep. Shawn Szydlowski registered his first four-point game of the season scoring two goals and adding two assists. Szydlowski capitalized on Fort Wayne's first penalty shot of the year for his first penalty shot goal as a Komet. David Friedmann and Trevor Cheek also scored for the Komets. Goaltender Hartzell earned his seventh win of the season making 27 saves on 29 shots in his eighth straight appearance. It was the only meeting of the season between Fort Wayne and Utah and the first ECHL meeting ever. Fort Wayne is now 5-0-0 against the Grizzlies in the ECHL after sweeping Utah in the 2016 playoffs 4-0. -Gamesheet-The Komets are 4-2-0 in their last six games and have only lost three games in regulation in their last 12 (7-3-2). A dozen games remain for the busiest month of the season, seven at home and five on the road.Komet leaders-- Szydlowski leads with 11 goals and 22 points.....Schaafsma leads with 12 assists.....Cody Sol leads with +20 and 69 penalty minutes.-Teamstats-

Milestones-- Jamie Schaafsma and Dan Milan each skated their 200th career ECHL career game Sunday against Utah.

THE WEEK AHEADTuesday, Dec. 6, Komets at Toledo Walleye (15-3-0, 30 points), 10:35am-- A busy week of four games in five days gets underway with a trip to Toledo (15-3-0, 30 points) for a 10:35am game at the Huntington Center (7,431) Tuesday. Overall the Komets have skated five morning games since joining the ECHL in 2012-13 for a 3-2-0 record. Tuesday's match will be the third early morning skate at Toledo where the Komets are 1-1-0 when traveling to Toledo for a morning game. The last early game in Toledo was on Nov. 19, 2014 when the Walleye doubled-up the Komets 6-3. Tuesday's outing will be the second meeting of six this season. Toledo leads the season series 1-0-0 after a 7-1 victory at Toledo Nov. 25. The division rival Walleye hold a six-point edge over the third-place Komets heading into week nine and are riding a seven game winning streak.Wednesday, Dec. 7, Komets at Cincinnati Cyclones (9-9-2, 20 points), 7:35pm-- The Komets and Cyclones meet for the second of eight times this season when the Komets travel to Cincinnati Wednesday for a 7:35pm faceoff. The Clones clipped the Komets 4-3 in the first meeting of the season on Nov. 4 at the U.S. Bank Arena (6,955). Cincinnati is coming off a pair of wins over the weekend but is 2-4-2 in their last eight games. Friday, Dec. 9, Kalamazoo Wings (7-13-2, 16 points) at Komets, 8pm-- A home-and-home series against Kalamazoo this weekend begins with a visit from the Wings Friday at 8pm. The Komets lead the season series 2-1-0 after a 6-1 win in Fort Wayne the last time the two teams met on Thanksgiving night. The Central division rival Wings are winless in their last three games and are 1-7-1 in the last nine. Kalamazoo is struggling to get out of the division cellar, trailing sixth-place Indy by two points. The Wings are 6-8-1 on the road and are in the middle of a six-game road tour. Kalamazoo skates at Quad City Wednesday before traveling to Fort Wayne Friday.

Saturday, Dec. 10, Komets at Kalamazoo Wings, 7pm-- It will be the first home game for Kalamazoo since Nov. 25. The Komets claimed a 2-1 victory on their first trip of the season to Kalamazoo Oct. 21. Saturday's game will be the second of four this season at Kalamazoo where the Wings are 1-5-1 in seven home games at the Wings Event Center (5,113).

STAR WARS NIGHT FRIDAY-- The Komets and Preferred Auto present Star Wars Night this Friday when the Kalamazoo Wings visit for an 8pm faceoff. The Komets will wear special Chewbacca jerseys to be auctioned off at the game to benefit Camp Whatcha Wanna Do. Fans will have a chance to meet their favorite Star Wars characters while celebrating the upcoming release of Star Wars: Rogue One. Fans are encouraged to get there early as special free Lightsabers will be given away to the first 1,000 kids entering the building.....may the force be with you!

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 Mavericks.

Komets on the air-- Most Komet games are scheduled to air this season on WOWO AM 1190 and FM 107.5 with Shane Albahrani calling the play-by-play. However, Tuesday's 10:30am game at Toledo will be aired on ESPN Radio AM 1380 and FM 100.9. 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.