K's Score Season-High 8 Goals In Win

CLICK ON VIDEO TAB TO SEE WANE'S COVERAGE, PLUS EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS AND INTERVIEWS WITH KALEIGH SCROCK, MATT SYROCZYNSKI AND HEAD COACH AL SIMS.

FT. WAYNE, Ind. — The Evansville IceMen were unable to muster enough fire power to to beat the Ft. Wayne Komets for a final time this season at Memorial Coliseum Sunday afternoon.

A four-goal second period by Ft. Wayne was part of an overall six-goal barrage that helped the Komets past the IceMen. The first of the middle period flurry came from Komets’ Forward Matt Syrocyznski, who accounted for the first two Ft. Wayne goals of the game.

Syrocyznski’s second goal of the game gave the Komets their first lead, a lead the home team did not relinquish, 2:10 into the second period. The Ft. Wayne forward was voted the game’s first star with two goals, one assist and a game-high eight shots on goal. Syrocyznski also finished with a +2 rating.

IceMen Left Winger Oliver Gabriel scored the initial goal of the game 7:14 into the first period. Gabriel’s fourth goal of the campaign marked the third straight game in which Evansville had owned a game’s first lead. The IceMen are (1-1-1) in those contests. The early 1-0 score was the only IceMen lead of the game.

IceMen Defenseman Jake Obermeyer, who was converted to center Sunday due to the departure of Todd Robinson, assisted on Evansville’s first goal of the game. Also assisting on the marker was IceMen Forward Dylan Clarke.

Clarke earned his second point of the game by scoring his 22nd goal of the season 15:36 into the second period. IceMen Right Winger Adam Pleskach provided with the helper that put Evansville within a goal of Ft. Wayne, 4-3 at the time. Clarke has earned eight points in his last five games.

Clarke’s goal was established 2:29 after IceMen Right Winger Jason Dale punched his 13th goal of the season, officially 13:07 into the second period. IceMen Center Colin Reddin and Goaltender James Reid were credited with assists. Dale concluded play with one goal on four shots and added two assists.

The two IceMen goals, coming in a matter of minutes, halted a Komets run of four unanswered tallies that began with Syroczynski’s first of the game, 13:11 into the first period. Komets’ Defenesman Ryan Hegarty and Center Brett N. Smith, shorthanded, added goals following Syroczynski’s second triumph to give Ft. Wayne a 4-1 lead.

Komets’ Forward J.P. Labardo capped a high-powered second period with his first goal of his professional career, while making his professional debut. Labardo’s milestone was assisted by Komets’ Right Winger Brandon Marino, who finished the game with two assists and a +3 rating. Marino has been a thorn in Evansville’s side this season, as he concludes play against the IceMen having earned 17 points against them.

IceMen Right Winger Patrick Kennedy and Defenseman Daniel Tetrault added goals for Evansville in the third period, but it was not enough as the Komets struck for three third period goals of their own.

Kennedy’s goal, 10:37 into the third period, was in answer to Komet’s Right Winger Thomas Beauregard’s 23rd goal of the season that came on the power play within the period’s first minute. Kennedy’s tack cut the Komets’ lead to 6-4 as the IceMen right winger amassed his 10th goal on the year.

Tetrault, Evansville’s team captain against the Komets, scored his 12th of the season 13:35 into the final frame. The defenseman’s power play lamp-lighter made it 7-5 as Ft. Wayne added another goal, scored by right winger Kaleigh Schrock, to keep its distance. Tetrault finished the contest with the one goal on a team-high six shots, and concludes this three-game weekend series having racked up 7 points (4G,3A).

Komets’ Defenseman Daniel Nycholat managed one last goal with his second of the season, 16:44 into the third period. Syroczynski earned an assist on Ft. Wayne’s eighth goal of the game.

IceMen Defenseman Chris Markiewicz was the lone Evansville player to finish the game with a plus-rating (+2). Komets’ Defensemen Nick Schaus, Ryan Hegarty and forward Marino all finished with +3 ratings for Ft. Wayne. Schaus and Hegarty were voted the game’s second and third start, respectively.

Evansville gave up a season-high 50 shots on goal against the Komets Sunday, eclipsing the previous max of 47 in a game played less than a week ago against the same Komets.

Evansville’s Reid took the loss after allowing eight of those 50 shots through. His record falls to (2-5-1) on the season, (1-4-1) with the IceMen. Komets’ Goaltender Jeff Deslauriers got the win in his Ft. Wayne debut. He saved 31-of-36 shots faced on his was to improving his season record to (5-5-1).The IceMen power play unit went 1-for-5 on the game. Ft. Wayne went 1-for-3, as well as adding a shorthanded goal. Evansville has surrended 13 shorthanded goals this season.

Evansville falls to (23-37-6)52 on the season and remain in fifth place in the North Division. Ft. Wayne, still playoff hopefuls, improve to (32-31-3)67 on the year and are currently eight