Syroczynski Get Hat Trick as Komets Silence Prairie Thunder 6-2

Coach Al Sims' displeasure over his team's poor performances against lower ranked rivals apparently sunk in, and the Fort Wayne Komets (27-15-0-2) came out with fire and determination Wednesday night against the fourth place Bloomington Prairie Thunder (20-19-2-5). A meager crowd of 5531 was on hand to watch the game, in part due to hazardous winter weather conditions in the area. Those who did make it to the game didn't have to wait long for the Komets to get on the scoreboard. Just 2:44 into the opening frame, Forward Matt Syroczynski took a pass from forward Konstantin Shafranov and put the puck past Prairie Thunder goalie Sebastian Dahm on a breakaway for the 1-0 lead. Defenseman Brandon Warner was also credited with an assist. Bloomington had 44 seconds of 5-on-3 time when Warner and Komets defensemen Guy Dupuis were both whistled for hooking at 5:48 and 7:04, respectively, but the Prairie Thunder failed to convert. Fort Wayne forward Leo Thomas then made it 2-0 at 14:00 after grabbing a puck that forward Brad MacMillan had ricocheted off the boards in the Bloomington zone. Deking Dahm to the ice, Thomas tucked the puck inside the post for his team-leading 20th goal of the season. But the Prairie Thunder weren't ready to surrender just yet, and when Fort Wayne forward Justin Chwedoruk was sent off for hooking 19 seconds into the second period, they pounced on the opportunity. Forward Bill Bagron netted a power play goal to cut the deficit to 2-1 at 0:56. An assist went to defenseman Jason Lepine. But at 9:15, Syroczynski restored the Komets 2-goal cushion after receiving a goalmouth pass from forward Colin Chaulk. Defenseman Danko Mironovic also assisted on the play. At 17:48, newly re-signed Fort Wayne forward Mitch Woods gave Bloomington another reason to be hopeful when he let his emotions get the best of him following a slashing penalty that referee Ian Croft called on him at 17:48. Woods complained bitterly over the penalty, earning an additional 2 minutes that would extend into the third period for unsportsmanlike conduct. But once again, the Komets successfully killed the penalty. It wasn't until 12:41 of the final frame that the Prairie Thunder were again able to inch closer when a shot by defenseman Nick Elligsen eluded Komets goaltender Tim Haun, managing just enough momentum to trickle over the goal line, bringing the score to 3-2. Forward Robin Gomez was awarded was awarded an assist. It could have been the start of yet another blown lead. Not this time. The Komets quickly nipped any chance of that in the bud by scoring an impressive 3 goals in less than 2 minutes. Shafranov started the barrage at 14:24, bringing the score to 4-2. Assists went to Warner and defenseman Frankie DeAngelis. Then with Bloomington defenseman Matthew Spiller off for hooking, Syroczynski stretched that lead to 5-2 when he found the net with his third goal of the evening and the first hat trick by any Komets player this season. The smattering of billed caps that hit the ice in response had scarcely been removed when forward Brad MacMillan put a figurative cap on the scoring. His tally at 16:07 gave Fort Wayne a 4-point, 6-2 lead that silenced the Prairie Thunder once and for all. DeAngelis and forward Lincoln Kaleigh Schrock picked up the helpers. Haun made 20 saves on 22 shots for the victory. Dahm stopped 39 of 45 in absorbing the loss.

Notes: The Komets went 1 for 5 on the power play. The Prairie Thunder were 1 for 8. Fort Wayne heavily outshot Bloomington in every period and 45-22 overall. It was the Prairie Thunder's third consecutive loss after losing a pair of back to back games in Muskegon, MI the previous weekend. Referee Ian Croft wore no number on the back of his jersey. Scratches for the Komets were defenseman Bobby Phillips (groin) and forward David Hukalo (back). The game marked the return of recently-released Komets forward Rick Varone in a Bloomington sweater. Varone had no shots on goal, and was a -2 for the evening.