Komets Get Shutout Win Over Hapless Generals

The Fort Wayne Komets (21-11-0-2) got their second shutout in as many games on Friday night, this time over the last place Flint Generals (11-21-1-4), who seemed unable to do much of anything right all evening. The Komets got on the board first at 9:35 of the opening frame with a goal by forward Matt Syrocynski who returned earlier in the week from his call-up to the AHL's Norfolk Admirals. Fellow forwards Konstantin Shafranov and Colin Chaulk picked up the assists on the play. There was a scary moment later in the period when Fort Wayne forward Justin Chwedoruk slammed awkwardly into the boards and had to be assisted off the ice. He later returned to the game. The second period was fruitless for both teams, with the Komets making a number of mistakes that the Generals never managed to capitalize on. Fort Wayne finally took control in the final frame, outshooting their opponents 16 to 8 to close out the game. And it paid off. At 2:25, forward P.C. Drouin found the net for a 2-0 edge with assists going to forward Leo Thomas and defenseman Keith Rodger. Then at 3:45, the Komets struck again, with Lincoln Kaleigh Schrock putting the puck past Flint goalie Rob Nolan to stretch the lead to 3-0. Chwedoruk was credited with the assist. At 15:54, a fight broke out between Generals forward Nathan Ward and Rodger, with both picking up 5 minute majors for fighting. Komets defenseman Kevin Bertram was also whistled for a minor roughing penalty, giving Flint the first of two chances in the final 4 minutes of the game to pull Nolan for a two man advantage. Thomas was also sent to the box at 18:21 on a slashing call. But neither advantage panned out for the hapless Generals, who were shut out for the fourth game in a row. Nolan made 32 saves on 35 shots in the loss. Fort Wayne goalie Tim Haun stopped all 38 shots he faced for the shutout.

Notes: Announced attendance was 7741. Haun had also shutout the Dayton Gems 3-0 the previous Sunday. Flint lost 1-0 to the Muskegon Lumberjacks the previous Friday, 3-0 to Dayton the previous Saturday, and 8-0 to Muskegon the previous Sunday. The Komets were outshot 17-11 in the first period and 13-8 in the second. Despite outshooting their opponents in the third, they were still outshot overall (38-35) for the third game in a row. Fort Wayne was 0-4 on the power play. Flint was 0-9. The Komets lead the season series against the Generals 4-2. A moment of silence was observed before the game for longtime Komets fan Mike Nichols, a good friend of team captain Guy Dupuis. Nichols passed away recently after a 20 year battle with cancer.