Komets Outlast Prairie Thunder 3-1

The Fort Wayne Komets rebounded to snap their two game losing streak when they defeated the Bloomington Prairie Thunder 3-1 on Saturday night. They also took out some of the frustration over seeing their undefeated streak at home end by blemishing the record of another previously undefeated home team. Colin Chaulk, who had missed Friday’s tilt against the Muskegon Lumberjacks to attend his grandmother’s funeral in Toronto, was flown back in time for the game. Chaulk took part in a first period fight with Bloomington’s Ryan Finnerty. Both received 5 minute fighting majors for the duel, but Chaulk received an additional 2 minute unsportsmanlike penalty and a 10 minute misconduct for not having his jersey tied down. Komets coach Al Sims protested the call to no avail. Neither team got on the board until 3:52 of the second period, when the Prairie Thunder’s Jamie Carroll got a shot past Komets goalie Tim Haun. Assists went to Bill Bagron and Ryan Finnerty. Fort Wayne responded at the 8:22 mark as defenseman Keith Rodger evened the score. Recently signed Justin Chwedoruk picked up his first point as a Komet with the assist. The visitors would strike again nearly a minute and a half later on the power play. With Bill Bagron off for hooking, Forward Leo Thomas netted the go ahead goal against his former team at 9:48. Rick Varone and Tomas Klempa were awarded the assists on the play. In the third period, the Komets were given a scare when Haun was shaken up after being run over by Kevin Bertram, his own defenseman, on a play, but the goalie was able to shake it off and stay in the game. Haun, who had his sixth consecutive start, is filling in for the injured Nick Boucher. Tyler Sims, his emergency back-up, could only come into the game if Haun were physically unable to continue. Having failed to get the tying goal, Bloomington pulled their goalie Andrew Martin for an extra attacker as the period drew to a close, but the play, which is always a gamble, backfired. At 19:04, Justin Chwedoruk put the game out of reach with an empty netter that was assisted by Sean O’Connor and Colin Chaulk to seal the victory.

Notes: Announced attendance was 2624. Bloomington’s U.S. Cellular Coliseum has a seating capacity of roughly 7000 for hockey. Bloomington, which leads the IHL in power play conversion was 0 – 4 with the man advantage. Fort Wayne was 1- 4. The Komets have only allowed 2 power play goals in the last 41 chances. Tim Haun made 35 saves on 36 shots for the victory. Andrew Martin stopped 24 of 26 shots he faced.