Komets Avenge Loss to Gems with Win in Dayton

The Fort Wayne Komets (16-11-0-1) gutted out a victory against the Dayton Gems (13-15-3-1) in Dayton on Wednesday night, wrapping up their second game in two nights in a home and away series with the IHL newcomers. The tone was set for the game just 1 second into the first period when the Komets forward Lincoln Kaleigh Schrock dropped the gloves with Dayton defenseman Nathan Oke. At 12:57, more fisticuffs broke out when the Komets Justin Chwedoruk took on Gems' forward Derek Parker. In addition to a 5 minute fighting penalty, Parker picked up 2 minutes for boarding which set the stage for a Fort Wayne power play. It paid off for the Koemts at 13:20, when Fort Wayne forward David Hukalo gave the Komets a 1-0 lead. Assists went to forwards P.C. Drouin and Konstantin Shafranov. Defenseman Kevin Bertram doubled that lead to 2-0 at 1:30 of the second period. Forwards Sean O'Connor and Shafranov picked up the assists on the play. Dayton pulled within 1 goal at 2:17 of the middle frame. With Mike Vaskivuo in the box for high sticking, forward Jonathan Ornelas netted a short-handed goal, cutting the score to 2-1. Forward Sam Bloom and defenseman Preston Briggs were awarded the helpers. The Gems knotted the tally at 2-2 at 5:32 on forward Dan Lapointe's rebound goal. Forwards Matt Szypura and Parker got the assists. But the Komets responded at 6:47, regaining the lead thanks to a goal by defenseman Frankie DeAngelis off a pass from forward Leo Thomas. Defenseman Danko Mironovic and Thomas were creditted with the helpers. Having surrendered a number of leads in recent games, it was far from certain that the Komets would be able to protect their one goal lead against the speedy, opportunistic Gems, but in a show of newfound fortitude, Fort Wayne managed to do just that. No further scoring took place despite the Gems pulling goalie Derek MacIntyre at the end. Fort Wayne outshot the Gems in every period and 43-28 overall. MacIntyre stopped 40 of the 43 shots he faced in absorbing the loss. Komets goalie Nick Boucher made 26 saves on 28 shots for the win.

Notes: Announced attendance was 2117. The Komets went 1-6 on the power play. The Gems were 0-2 with the extra man. Komets back-up goalie Tim Haun served the final game in his 7 game suspension. Fort Wayne forward and assistant coach Colin Chaulk missed the second of 3 games due to a death in his family.