Komets Chop into Lumberjacks' Lead with 4-2 Victory

While the Fort Wayne Komets (19-11-0-2) did defeat one of their keenest rivals, the Muskegon Lumberjacks (22-9-0-3) on Saturday night, it wasn't quite the rematch many had been hoping for ever since a brawl-filled Komets victory on October 31 resulted in legthy suspensions to enforcers from both teams. Muskegon forward Jason Lawmaster was missing from his team's line-up due to a violent but clean check that resulted in surgery to remove his spleen. Meanwhile Lumberjacks' forward Robin Big Snake had reportedly demanded a trade and was also not in attendance. But there were a couple of fights to placate the lovers of hockey's more physical aspects. The game got off to a quick start, as Fort Wayne tallied its first goal just 18 seconds into the contest when a shot by forward Colin Chaulk found the net, extending his point scoring streak to a team-high seven games. Assists went to forward Lincoln Kaleigh Schrock and defenseman Bobby Phillips. Schrock was forced into a fight by Muskegon defenseman Russ Smith at the 2:48 mark, following a check into the boards by Schrock. Both were sent off with fighting majors. At 12:13, Komets defenseman Guy Dupuis was sent off for holding, and Muskegon took full advantage of the extra man. At 13:14 forward Robin Bouchard got the puck past Komets goalie Tim Haun, tying the score at 1-1. Assists went to defenseman Matt Krug and forward Todd Robinson. The first period was drawing to a close when another fight broke out, this time between Komets forward Brad MacMillan and Smith. Muskegon defenseman Adam Welch was whistled for tripping while MacMillan picked up a roughing call in additon to his fighting major. At 14:22 of the middle frame, Fort Wayne regained the lead on a power play when a shot from Chaulk got past Lumberjacks' goalie Sebastien Centomo, bringing the score to 2-1. Muskegon's Damian Surma had been sent to the box at 13:03 for holding to give the Komets the man advantage. Forward Konstantin Shafranov and Dupuis were awarded the helpers. In the third period, Fort Wayne stretched the lead to 3-1 when Shafranov found the net with assistance from phillips and Schrock. The Lumberjacks crept back within a goal when forward J.T. Dahlinger slipped the puck past Haun. Surma and Krug assisted. But the injury-ravaged Lumberjacks, who outshot Fort Wayne in every period of the contest, could draw no closer. Frustration was clearly in evidence on their bench, with the recently-signed Michel Beausoleil frequently seen slamming his stick in fits of anger. Muskegon pulled goalie Centomo in the final minute in hopes of sending the game to overtime, but instead it was the Komets who tallied. Lincoln Kaleigh Schrock, after receiving a pass from forward P.C. Drouin, got the empty net goal and the Gordie Howe Hat Trick at 19:38 to cap the scoring at 4-2 and seal the victory. Haun made 41 saves on 43 shots for the win. Centomo stopped 24 of the 27 he faced.

Notes: Announced attendance was 8222. Fort Wayne was 1-6 on the power play. Muskegon went 1-5 with the extra man. Bobby Phillps father, Bob Phillips -- a former Komets player himself -- was in attendance celebrating his 51st birthday. With the victory, the Komets evened the season series with Muskegon at 3 games apiece. In their last meeting the day after Christmas, Fort Wayne defeated the Lumberjacks 7-2 in Muskegon. The win pulled them within 7 points of the second place Lumberjacks in the IHL standings.