Komets Down Last Place Mallards 2-1

The Fort Wayne Komets defeated one of the IHL's new additions, the Quad City Mallards, 2-1 in the two teams' second match-up of the season, the first in Fort Wayne. Sporting lime green jerseys, the Mallards looked energetic at times but lacked the ability to retain control of the puck, especially when it mattered most. Tomas Klempa got the Komets on the board early, putting the puck past Quad City goalie Kyle Jones at 6:01 of the opening frame. Sean O'Connor and Rick Varone picked up assists on the goal. At 9:25 of the second period, Guy Dupuis rocketed a shot from the right point that deflected into the net off a Quad City defenseman to make the tally 2-0 in favor of the Komets. At 13:14, the Mallards sent out tough guy Marc Rechlicz, who had been added to the roster earlier in the day, to fight Fort Wayne's Blair Stayzer in hopes that it would spark their team. Rechlicz did take Stayzer down, and just over six minutes later, the Mallards were on the board. Mike Zbriger slipped the puck past Komets goalie Tim Haun to cut the goal deficit in half with 28 seconds remaining in the period. But it proved to be too little, too late. Haun, with the help of his defensive-minded teammates, shut the door on the hopes of the frantic Mallards, and there was no additional scoring in the third.

Notes: Goalie Tyler Sims, son of Komets coach Al Sims, was signed as an emergency back-up for Haun following an injury to Fort Wayne's #1 goalie Nick Boucher in practice on Thursday. Justin Cohn of the Journal Gazette is reporting the injury to be a broken pinkie finger on Boucher's left hand. It is unclear when Boucher will be cleared to return. Fort Wayne's Lincoln Kaleigh Schrock faught Quad City's Jason Goulet at 6:24 of the third period, notching a decisive victory.