Fort Wayne Komets Playoff Hopes In Serious Jeopardy As They Have Lost Five Straight

K’s Need Spark To Make Playoffs

DANIEL R. PATMORE / SPECIAL TO THE COURIER & PRESS Evansville IceMen’s Mark Cody, (18) and Fort Wayne Komets’ Kaleigh Schrock, (79) fight it out on the Ice at 19:59 in to the first half as Linesman Dan Cohen looks on in Friday nights game at the Ford Center.

Fort Wayne, IN – The Fort Wayne Komets (26-26-2) are in a funk. They have lost five straight and seven of their last nine and are in a free-fall in the standings. The K’s started the weekend in the last playoff spot, but have landed in the tenth spot, six points out and three points behind the division rival Kalamazoo Wings.

At Evansville:

The IceMen dominated the Komets Friday night as Evansville Goalie Paul Dainton stopped all but a Tomas Beauregard shot early in the third period. Marco Cousineau started in net, but was pulled 4:21 into the middle frame after giving up Kevin Baker’s second goal of the night. Charlie Effinger allowed two, but this was after the game was already decided.

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Power Play Efficiency

Three Stars:

In Fort Wayne:

DANIEL R. PATMORE / SPECIAL TO THE COURIER & PRESS

Evansville IceMen’s Philippe Plante, (24) passes the puck as Fort Wayne Komets’ Matt Syroczynski, (27) tries to get it away as Komets’ Eric Giosa , (23) comes up from behind to assist in the first half of Friday nights game at the Ford Center.

Evansville swept the home-and-home series Saturday in front of a sellout crowd at the Memorial Coliseum. This also marked Komet captain Colin Chaulk’s first time in the lineup in 32 games. Chaulk could not help as the IceMen used a strong second period to give the Fort Wayne faithful an unfortunately familiar feeling. Eric Giosa scored the first goal of the game. Brandon Marino disrupted a potential four straight goal for Evansville in the second. J.M. Rizk did have a penalty shot attempt in the second, but Dainton was able to stop it.

Game Statistics:

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Three Stars:

In Toledo:

The Komets finally looked like a team needing a win. Unfortunately the K’s ran out of steam against the division rival Walleye. Matt Syroczynski and Brett Smith scored within 20 seconds of each other in the middle of the first period, but the Komets could not keep the momentum going. Former Komet Stephon Throne netted an equalizer soon after and the Walleye never looked back. Brandon Marino notched his 18th goal of the season late in the third after Toledo scored a total of four unanswered.

Game Statistics:

SOG:

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Power Play Efficiency

Three Stars:

The Komets will faceoff against the division leading Cincinnati Cyclones Friday at 8:00 p.m. EST at home.