Komets Make It Three in a Row with 5-2 Win Over Prairie Thunder

There were no fights, but no love lost either, as The Fort Wayne Komets (29-15-0-2) completed a sweep of the week's games on Valentine's Day by toppling the Bloomington Prairie Thunder (21-20-2-5) for the second time in 5 days, this time in Bloomington, IL. For the Komets, it was yet another boost to the team's confidence. For the Prairie Thunder it was a night of missed opportunities and frustration. The game got off to an inauspicious start for the Komets. With the game still in a scoreless tie halfway through the opening frame, referee Brett Klosowski gave Bloomington a 5-on-3 power play for 1:36 after whistling Komets forward Sean O'Connor for slashing at 10:46 and defenseman Kevin Bertram for holding at 11:10, respectively. But Bloomington failed to convert on the chance and was soon on the shallow side of the scoreboard as a result. At 14:03 Fort Wayne forward Lincoln Kaleigh Schrock got his team off and running with a high shot over the glove side corner for the 1-0 lead. Assists went to forwards P.C. Drouin and defenseman Frankie DeAngelis. Komets forward Brad MacMillan doubled that to 2-0 at 17:54 after Bloomington goalie Kevin Armstrong went down to make the stop, but MacMillan's shot snuck through underneath him. Forward Justin Chwedoruk picked up the assist. In the second period, Fort Wayne forward Colin Chaulk stretched that to 3-0 at the 2:33 mark. With Prairie Thunder defenseman Jason Lepine in the box for hooking since 1:21, Chaulk was the third man to take a whack at the puck in front of the Bloomington net, and it proved to be the charm, as he tucked it home. Chwedoruk and forward Matt Syroczynski were awarded the helpers on the play. There was a scary moment at the 3:12 mark, when it was discovered that Prairie Thunder forward Mike Liambas, who had wound up at the bottom of a goalmouth body pile, had sustained a severely lacerated wrist from contact with someone's skate. Liambas was immediately taken to the hospital, and no further word on his condition was available. At 5:49, it seemed as if the Komets might extend their lead even further when Bloomington defenseman Matthew Spiller was called for holding, but this time, the Prairie Thunder turned the tables. With Fort Wayne's defensemen pinching deep into the offensive zone, Bloomington forward Zac Pearson skated wide left on a breakaway and shot the puck past Komets goalie Tim Haun for a shorthanded goal that cut the Komets lead to 3-1. Defenseman Matt Frick assisted. It worked so well, in fact, that they decided to try it again. At 9:47 Prairie Thunder forward Rick Varone was in the box for interference, and just 9 seconds into the resulting Fort Wayne power play, Bloomington forward Bill Bagron found the net on another shorthanded breakaway to make it a 1 goal game at 3-2. Spiller and forward Matt McIlvane had the assists. Clearly, it was time for a change of tactics. The remainder of the second period was a tense, back-and-forth affair as the Komets adjusted their game plan, but in the third, they were pressing their advantage once again. Just 20 seconds into the final frame, Syroczynski managed to get the tip of his stick on the puck and stick-handled it through Bloomington's defense to make the count 4-2. Defenseman Kevin Bertram picked up an assist. Then at 4:03 Fort Wayne defenseman Guy Dupuis capped the scoring at 5-2 when he put a backhander just inside the post. Drouin and O'Connor were credited with the helpers. The Prairie Thunder ended the game as they began -- with a 5-on-3 power play -- this time for 35 seconds, as Drouin was sent off for tripping at 18:16 and Komets defenseman Brandon Warner was called for hooking at 19:25. But as before, it went nowhere, and Fort Wayne was soon on the way home with 2 more standings points in hand. Haun made 35 saves on 37 shots for the victory. Armstrong stopped 35 of 40 in absorbing the loss.

Notes: Announced attendance was 3374. Armstrong was signed by Bloomington on February 10 to fill in for regular goalie Andrew Martin, who was placed on 30 day IR with a hip ailment. The Komets were 1 for 6 on the power play. The Prairie Thunder went 0 for 8 despite netting 2 shorthanded goals. It was Fort Wayne's third straight win and 4th in their last 5. Bloomington has lost 6 games out of the last 8 after a stretch of 5 wins in 6. The two teams will next meet in Fort Wayne, IN on Wednesday night. The Komets currently lead the season series with the Prairie Thunder 7-2.