Komets Edge Flint 3-2 in Overtime

The Fort Wayne Komets (12-6-0-1) rounded out a surprisingly challenging weekend of 3 games in as many days with an overtime victory at home versus the struggling Flint Generals (6-12-1-2). Despite outshooting the Generals in the first period 14 to 8, the Komets looked sluggish and were getting few good chances to score. It came as little surprise, then, that Flint got on the board first when forward John Ronan skated up the slot unimpeded, took a centering pass from center Greg Bullock and put the puck past Fort Wayne goalie Tim Haun at 16:07 of the opening frame. In the second period, the Komets seemed to regain some of their focus, knotting the score at 1-1 nearly halfway through the period. At 9:01 a shot by Brandon Warner hit traffic in front of Generals goalie Rob Nolan, flipping high into the air. Komets forward Leo Thomas took a baseball swing at it, grazing the puck, but it was Flint defenseman Craig Cescon who touched it last, accidentally knocking it into his own net after attempting to knock it clear. Thomas was awarded the goal, with assists going to Warner and Sean O'Connor. At 14:47, Fort Wayne took full advantage of the only power play awarded to either team all night by referee Bob Langdon. After Generals forward Jamie Schaafsma was sent to the box for high sticking at 14:35, David Hukalo netted a power play goal just 12 seconds later to put the Komets up 2-1. The tally was originally credited to Guy Dupuis, who was instead given an assist on the play, while forward P.C. Drouin picked up the other assist. Fort Wayne again outshot their opponents 15-10 in the middle frame, but as has been their habit of late, let up in the third period. Just 2:31 into the final frame, Generals forward Rick Smith tied the score at 2-2 with assistance from forwards Nathan Ward and Bryan Smolinski, setting the stage for both teams to make their final push for victory as the game clock ticked down. It was mainly Flint making that push, as the Komets were outshot 15-5 in the third period, leaving Haun to bear the brunt of the Generals' attacks and maintain the tie. At 9:12, a fight broke out between Fort Wayne forward Lincoln Kaleigh Schrock and Craig Cescon as both players tried to spark their teams, but there was no further scoring in regulation. The Komets finally netted the deciding goal 2:02 into overtime, when Sean O'Connor took possession of the puck along the boards and fed Leo Thomas on a breakaway. Thomas deked Nolan before sliding the puck past him on the goalie's left for the game winner. Nolan finished with 34 saves on 37 shots. Haun stopped 33 of 35 in the victory.

Notes: Leo Thomas had gone 6 games without tallying before his 2 goal outburst. It was Haun's 13th consecutive start for the Komets, as primary goalie Nick Boucher continues to recover from a broken finger. Announced attendance was 6411, the smallest Fort Wayne crowd so far of the 2009-2010 season.