Jean-Michel Rizk’s Overtime Goal Lifts Fort Wayne Komets Over Toledo Walleye 5-4

Komets Hold On After Coughing Up Two-Goal Lead In Third

Samuel Hoffman | The Journal Gazette

Komets goaltender Jeff Deslauriers has stopped 95.5 percent of the shots he has faced.

Fort Wayne, IN – The Fort Wayne Komets (28-28-2) looked like they would cruise to a victory after two periods, but the defense went soft and Jeff Deslauriers allowed the Toledo Walleye (30-19-8) to tie the game up late in the third. Jean-Michel Rizk notched the game winner with 1:55 left in the extra frame for his 18th of the season.

First Period:

The opening frame saw the K’s score within the first two minutes. Jamie Milam netted his second goal of the season. The Walleye answered with just under seven minutes left in te period, when Byron Froese netted his eighth of the season.

Second Period:

The middle frame Brandon Marino netted his 20th of the year on the power play. Kaleigh  Shrock notched his eighth of the year near the four minute mark. The Walleye were undeterred, and started their comeback. Willie Coetzee netted his 22nd of the season at the 7:22 mark. The Komets pushed it back to a two-goal lead off of Tomas Beauregard’s 21st of the season.

Third Period:

The third period saw the Walleye wake-up. They scored twice to even up the score. Trevor Parkes scored first at the 5:46 mark. Coetzee notched his second ten minutes later.

Overtime:

Rizk’s goal in the waning minutes gave the Komets the victory.

Team Statistics:

Score by Period:

Toledo Walleye11204

Fort Wayne Komets13015

 SOG:

Toledo Walleye15119035

Fort Wayne Komets998429

 Power Play Efficiency

Toledo Walleye

Fort Wayne Komets1st0-20-22nd0-11-23rd1-30-1OT0-00-0Total1-61-5

Three Stars:

Fort Wayne KometsRW Brandon Marino1 G, 1 A, -1, 8 Shots, 4 PIM

Toledo WalleyeF Willie Coetzee2 G, 1 A, +2, 2 Shots, 2 PIM

Fort Wayne KometsRW Jean-Michel Rizk1 G, 1 A, +2, 1 Shot, 0 PIM

The Komets return to action Friday to take on the South Carolina Stingrays at 7:00 p.m. EST.