Fort Wayne, IN — The Komets gained six points in four games for week 21 to draw within six points of league-leader Port Huron with five weeks and 17 games remaining in 2008-09.

The week began with the Komets extending their season-high road winning streak to four games with a 2-1 win at Flint Wednesday.  That streak ended at Muskegon Friday when the Komets came up short 5-3 in their first regulation loss in five games and second in 12.

The Komets returned to winning form Saturday at Kalamazoo with a 4-1 victory at Wings Stadium.  The Komets then posted their second straight win Sunday at Flint 5-4 to extend their winning streak over the Generals to six games and completed a four-game road swing for the week.

Looking ahead the Komets will begin a tear of 11 games in 17 nights for the remainder of March.  This weekend the Komets will skate three games in three nights starting at Port Huron Friday at 7:30pm.  The league-leading Icehawks are coming off a 4-2 home loss to Kalamazoo Sunday, ending their unbeaten streak at 12 games.  The Komets lead the season series 6-5-0 and are 5-1-0 at McMorran Arena.  It's the first meeting since the Komets chilled the Icehawks 4-0 Jan. 31 on Fort Wayne ice.  Port Huron is also idle this week until they host the Komets Friday. 

Saturday the Komets return home to host the Kalamazoo Wings at 7:30pm.  After a 4-2 win at Port Huron Sunday, the fourth-place Wings trail the Komets by four points and are 2-4-0 in their last six outings.  Saturday will be Kalamazoo's last visit to Fort Wayne where the Komets are 2-2-1-2 against the Wings this season.  Kalamazoo travels to Bloomington Wednesday and hosts Bloomington Friday before visiting Fort Wayne Saturday.

Sunday the Komets are back on the road to Bloomington for a 5:05pm faceoff (Fort Wayne time).  It's the first of six meetings remaining until the end of the season.  The Komets are 4-2-0-2 against the PrairieThunder in eight meetings so far.  Sunday's game will be the fifth of seven at Bloomington where the Komets are 2-1-0-1 this season.  The Thunder won both games played last week and are 2-3-0 in their last five games.  Sunday's game will be Bloomington's fourth in five nights.  The Thunder will host Kalamazoo Wednesday, then skate at Kalamazoo Friday and at Muskegon Saturday before heading back home Sunday to host the Komets. 

Wing-Ding Doubleheader Saturday.....not only do the Komets host the Kalamazoo Wings Saturday at 7:30pm, but prior to that game the Komet Legends will take on the Detroit Red Wings Alumni team at 5pm with doors opening at 4pm.  One ticket gets fans in for both games Saturday.  Some of the Komet legends expected to attend are Eddie Long, Steve Fletcher, Kelly Hurd, Dale Baldwin, Dustin Virag, Carey Lucyk, Ian Boyce, Doug Rigler, Grant Richison, Ron Leef and more.  Scheduled to appear (subject to change) for the Detroit Red Wings Alumni Association are Shawn Burr, Dennis Hextall, Joey Kocur, Kevin Miller, John Ogrodnick, Brent Fedyk, Sergie Kharin and more.

And it's Army Night, too.....Saturday night is also Army Night when the Komets host Kalamazoo at 7:30.  The Komets will battle the Wings in their special U.S. Army Jerseys and a silent auction for each jersey will take place during the game with proceeds donated to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.   

And it's Lucky Bills Wallet Night.....Saturday the Komets will be handing out special logo wallets to the first 1,000 fans through the doors at 4pm courtesy of Three Rivers Federal Credit Union.  Each wallet will have a prize or cash amount, some will contain up to $100, in a celebration of the green in honor of St. Patrick's day next week.  Get their early Saturday to test your luck!

Curadeau named IHL Player of the Week:  The IHL announced today that Komet center Mathieu Curadeau was named the IHL Player of the Week for last week's effort.  Curadeau appeared in all four games played scoring five goals and adding an assist for a six-point week.  Curadeau also started a three-game point and goal scoring streak marking in Komet games Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Friday the center scored the Komets' first goal of the game at Muskegon.  Saturday Curadeau netted a pair and dished an assist for three points in the Komets 4-1 win at Kalamazoo.  Sunday the second-year pro put the Komets on the board for a 1-1 tie at Flint in the first period before adding the Komets' third goal in the second enroute to a 5-4 win over the Generals.  Since Curadeau's return from the AHL's Norfolk Admirals Jan. 23, he has had points in all but two of the 20 games he has appeared in (13g, 16a, 29pts).  Previously he had points in 12 of 15 games played.  In all, Curadeau has pointed in 30 of 35 games so far this season and is tied with P.C.Drouin for most goals at 28.

Streaking Komets.....Mathieu Curadeau's three-game goal and point-scoring streak (5 goals, 1 assist).  Konstantin Shafranov has assists in three straight games (4 assists) and netminder Sebastien Laplante is unbeaten in seven straight games.

Milestones:  Center Mathieu Curadeau scored his 100th career goal Friday at Muskegon.  P.C. Drouin dished his 200th Fort Wayne career assist Sunday at Flint and Dominic Osman skated his 100th pro game Sunday at Flint.

KOMETS PLANNER
Komet games coming up
Friday, Mar. 13.....Komets at Port Huron Icehawks, 7:30pm, WOWO Radio AM 1190
Saturday, Mar. 14.....Kalamazoo Wings at Komets, 7:30pm, WOWO Radio AM 1190
Sunday, Mar. 15.....Komets at Bloomington PrairieThunder, 5:05pm (FW time), WOWO Radio AM 1190
All games broadcast on radio are webcast free at www.Komets.com Comcast KometCast
Komet practice schedule
Tue. Mar. 10.....10am-noon at the Coliseum
Wed. Mar. 11.....10am-noon at the Coliseum
Thu. Mar. 12.....10am-noon at the Coliseum
Fri. Mar. 13.....10am-11am at McMillen Ice Arena
Sat. Mar. 14.....11am-noon at the Coliseum
Tue. Mar. 17.....10am-11am at McMillen Ice Arena
Komets Schedule

Tickets.....Komet tickets are on sale at the Coliseum Ticket Office and online at www.ticketmaster.com.  The Komets offer discounts on group tickets sold at the Komet office at 1010 Memorial Way in Fort Wayne.  For more information visit the Komet office, the Komets' website at www.komets.com, or call 260-483-0011.

Komet Hockey On The Web and Air.....Most Komet games are broadcast on WOWO Radio AM 1190 with Bob Chase at the Fort Wayne microphone for his 56th consecutive season.  Some games will be aired on WKJG/ESPN Radio AM 1380 as an alternative when conflicts occur.  All games aired on radio will also be available free on the internet at Comcast KometCast at www.komets.com.  Fans can follow the official scoring of all Komet games this season by clicking on the "Scoreboard" at www.komets.com.

Komets.com.....The official website of the Fort Wayne Komets is www.komets.com.  In addition to featuring free webcasting of live Komet game radio, Komets.com also provides fans and media with up-to-date team stats, news, interactive fan features and information.  Fans can also follow all Komet games with real-time scoring via the IHL and Pointstreak by clicking the Scoreboard at Komets.com.