Komets Hold Off Icehawks 4-3

For the second time in less than a week, the Fort Wayne Komets (39-18-1-2) defeated the Port Huron Icehawks (37-21-0-4), this time in Port Huron, MI, thus allowing the Komets to tighten their grip on second place in the IHL's standings race. On a night in which Port Huron's players were clad in special white, black and green jerseys in honor of Guinness Draught and the St. Patrick's Day holiday, the luck, ultimately, was on the visitors' side. Fort Wayne forward Justin Chwedoruk got his team on the board at just 1:30 of the opening frame when he intercepted the puck and out-skated a Port Huron defenseman before putting a backhander past Icehawks goalie Adam Russo high, glove-side for the 1-0 lead. At 14:49, Komets forward Sean O'Connor was sent to the box for hooking by referee Ryan Hutchison, putting Port Huron on the power play, and the potent Icehawks offense did not waste the opportunity. At 15:33, forward Brandon Naurato tallied off a rebound from right in front of the net with no Fort Wayne player around to cover him, tying the score at 1-1. Assists went to forward Kris Vernarsky and defenseman Ian Turner. Though no true fights broke out, Icehawks 6'5" forward Peter Flache did take exception to a check by the 5'11" O'Connor later in the period and was seen challenging the Fort Wayne player repeatedly. O'Connor proved to be popular early in the second period as well. At the 1:50 mark, he flattened Icehawks defenseman Rob Cowan against the glass and received a minor boarding penalty as a result. Flache then attempted to reach O'Connor, but he came up with Komets forward Leo Thomas instead. A minor brawl ensued, and Thomas and Flache were both handed roughing penalties. O'Connor's extra 2 minutes put the Icehawks on the power play, but they failed to capitalize. As the penalty expired, Fort Wayne forward David Hukalo spotted Thomas breaking into the Port Huron zone and hit him with a pass at the blue line, which Thomas then planted in the back of the net to put the Komets back on top 2-1. But once again, Fort Wayne failed to hold the lead. At 11:45 Icehawks defenseman Mike Gershon put a shot from the left point past Komets goalie Nick Boucher to knot the score at 2-2. Assists went to forwards Derek Patrosso and Nick Lindberg. At 16:30, Fort Wayne defenseman Keith Rodger took a hooking penalty, and once again, Port Huron made the Komets pay for the infraction. Defenseman Cody Hamilton put another shot from the point into the twine at 17:06 to give the Icehawks their first lead of the game at 3-2. Patrosso and Lindberg got the assists for the second goal in a row. As the period drew to a close, it was the Komets turn to even things up, which they did when forward Lincoln Kaleigh Schrock burst out of his own end, positioned himself in front of the Port Huron net, and deflected a shot by Hukalo past Russo for a 3-3 count to begin the final frame. Defenseman Frankie DeAngelis was also credited with an assist. The next goal was obviously going to be crucial, and the third period looked to be a war. At the 4:00 mark, the battle still raged, but it was the Komets banner that flew just a little higher. Thomas picked up a rebound for the 4-3 advantage. Defenseman Danko Mironovic and forward P.C. Drouin were awarded the assists. To quote Fort Wayne radio broadcaster Bob Chase, the Icehawks threw everything but the stadium's seats at the Komets from there on out. The only hindrance to their full court press came at 18:30 from, ironically enough, Naurato. After getting his team on the board in the first period, a slashing call on the forward at 18:30 left his team short-handed at the most critical time in the game. Regardless, Russo was pulled with 35 seconds remaining on the clock, but Port Huron was unable to even the score before the horn sounded. Boucher made 30 saves on 33 shots for the victory. Russo stopped 25 of 29 in absorbing the loss. The teams have one more meeting scheduled before the regular season ends -- Saturday, April 3 in Fort Wayne, IN.

Notes: Announced attendance was 1172. Port Huron went 2 for 5 on the power play. The Komets were 0 for 3. The Icehawks outshot Fort Wayne 13 to 6 in the third period and 33-29 overall. Port Huron's losing streak was extended to 3 games, while the Komets have won 4 in a row. Fort Wayne currently has the most road wins in the IHL with an 18-12-1 record. Komets enforcer Brad MacMillan missed the game with a separated shoulder. He was placed on the 14 day IR earlier in the week. In another ironic twist, O'Connor was the most penalized player for this St. Patrick's Day match-up, being sent to the box 3 times while everyone else who visited the sin bin made the trip only once. The season series between Fort Wayne and Port Huron is now tied at 5 games apiece.