Komets Outmaneuvered by Generals 3-1

The Fort Wayne Komets (35-17-1-2) missed a chance to move within 8 points of the league-leading Muskegon Lumberjacks when they dropped a game to the Flint Generals (21-30-2-4) in Flint, MI on Saturday night. The loss snapped the Komets 6 game winning streak, and moved them 3 points behind the IHL's second place team, the Port Huron Icehawks. The match got off to a physical start when Fort Wayne forward Mitch Woods dropped the gloves with Generals defenseman Armando Scarlato just 40 seconds after the opening face-off, though as fights go, it turned into more of a hugging match. Flint was first to get on the board at 16:58 of the first when the Komets were unable to clear the puck from their zone. Generals forward John Ronan put a high, hard shot from out front under the crossbar on a well-screened play that Komets goalie Tim Haun had no chance on for the 1-0 lead. Assists went to forwards Dan Lapointe and Nathan Ward. In the second period Fort Wayne forward Matt Syroczynski thought he had a goal at the 5:34 mark, but referee Nick Suhy waved it off after consulting with the goal judge, who didn't see the puck go into the net despite Syroczynski's insistence that it had. But the news would only get worse for the Komets. At 6:34, Flint forward Rick Smith was sent to the box for slashing, but his absence wound up benefitting the Generals instead of Fort Wayne. At 8:08, with the Komets defense committed deep on the play, Flint forward Bryan Smolinski and defenseman Brandon Gentile got a shorthanded breakaway, drawing Haun to the left before Smolinski deposited the puck in the net to put the Generals up 2-0. Around this time the Fort Wayne bench was no doubt wondering if it wasn't time for a "colorful metaphor". With frustration mounting, another bout broke out at 9:06, this time between Woods and Flint forward Pascal Rheaume, though it was deemed to be roughing by Suhy. At 16:54, the Komets had a second would-be goal waved off. With Generals forward Matt Moffat off as of 15:57 for slashing, Fort Wayne was on the power play. Suhy signaled an additional delayed penalty on Smolinski for boarding, which would normally be a very positive development for the attacking team. But when Fort Wayne forward Lincoln Kaleigh Schrock got the puck to the net and jammed it under Generals goalie Rob Nolan, Suhy declared that Nolan had touched the puck before it went into the net, therefore ending the play before the goal was scored. The Komets still had over a minute of 5-on-3 time with which to console themselves, but the power play went nowhere due to Fort Wayne's apparent inability to get a shot off. At one point, forward P.C. Drouin had an opportunity, but fanned completely on the play. Tensions continued to mount, and at 9:16 of the final frame, Schrock and Smith traded barbs when Smith was whistled for hooking. Both picked up unsportsmanlike penalties as a result. It wasn't until 12:27 of the third that the Komets finally had a glimmer of hope. On a fantastic play, forward Leo Thomas set up Matt Woodard, who finally found the twine, cutting the deficit to 2-1. Drouin also picked up an assist. But with the clock ticking down, Fort Wayne suffered another setback when Woodard was sent off for tripping at 15:17. The Komets successfully killed the penalty, but it left very little time in which to mount a counteroffensive. Fort Wayne pulled Haun for the extra attacker in the final minute, and defenseman Frankie DeAngelis had a shot that came very close to dribbling in. Close, but as they say, no cigar. When Generals forward Jamie Schaafsma intercepted the puck and skated up the ice on a breakaway at 19:58, Syroczynski simply watched him skate past, unable to muster the will to try to prevent the inevitable -- an empty net goal that extended Flint's lead to 3-1 just before the final buzzer sounded. Ronan was awarded an assist on the tally. Haun stopped 24 of the 26 shots he faced in the loss. Nolan made 29 saves on 30 shots for the victory. The teams are scheduled to meet again on Sunday in Fort Wayne, IN for the second part of the home-and-home.

Notes: Announced attendance was 2164 at Perani Arena and Event Center, which recently had its lighting and heating improved. Fort Wayne went 0 for 6 on the power play. Flint went 0 for 5. The Komets outshot the Generals 10-4 in the third period and 30-27 overall. Prior to the win, Flint had lost 5 of their last 6 games. Woodard had the only positive +/- rating for a Fort Wayne player at +1. Syroczynski had a rough night with -3. Despite the loss, the Komets still lead the season series with the Generals 5 games to 3 with 4 games remaining.