Komets Win Wild One Over Wings 6-5

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Kalamazoo, MI- Falling behind four goals in the second period proved to be too much for the Kalamazoo Wings (5-4-0-0), as they dropped their third straight contest, this time a 6-5 decision to the Fort Wayne Komets (5-2-0-1).

Sparked by an early power-play, John Armstrong (1st) gave the K-Wings the lead by netting his first of the season. Setup by a dump in by Kyle Page, Kory Karlander chipped the loose puck to the Armstrong, who was camped in front of the Komets net 2:36 into the game.

Pulling even late in the period following a K-Wings turnover, Jean-Michel Rizk (2nd) scored off a cross-rink pass from Brandon Marino. The assist extended Marino’s point streak to five games.

Prior to Saturday, the Komets were outscored 7-2 in the second period this season, but no one gave that memo to Fort Wayne. Exploding for four goals to start the period, the Komets went ahead 5-1.

Thomas Beauregard (3rd, 4th) netted the first two in the period for Fort Wayne. The initial tally came on a wrister between the circles 1:36 into the stanza and his second on a rebound.

Skating up the right wing, Josh Brittain (3rd) received a drop pass from Nick Schaus, who had assists on the first three Komets goals in the period. Brittain riffled a slap shot past Joe Cannata to extend the Komets lead to three goals.

Daniel Maggio pushed the Komets lead to 5-1 at the 14:31 mark of the middle frame with a slap shot from the right point. Also assisting on the goal was Colin Chaulk, who extended his point streak to five games.

Trying to mount a comeback late in the period, Darren Archibald lit the lamp for his team-best fourth time in the season with a power-play marker 15:26 into the period. Eric Kattelus increased his point streak to five games with an assist on the tally.

Less than two minutes later, Dustin Cloutier (1st) one-timed a Sam Ftorek pass past Marco Cousineau to cut the Komets lead to 5-3.

Catching the Komets in the a line change, the K-Wings created a four-on-one rush, in which Adam Polasek (1st) would tip in a rebound with 10:22 remaining to bring Kalamazoo within a single goal.

Moments later, Cousineau would leave the game with an injury following a shot from Kory Karlander.

Capping off a hat trick, Beauregard (5th) put the game out of reach with an empty-netter with 56 seconds remaining.

Bringing it back to a single-goal, Nick Sirota (2nd) tacked on a goal for K-Wings with 4. 7 seconds remaining to close out the scoring.

Cannata (2-1-0-0) finished the game 30 saves, while Cousineau left the contest with 33 saves; his replacement Charlie Effinger (2-1-0-0) stopped three shots and earned the victory.