Fort Wayne, IN — The Komets overpowered the visiting Kalamazoo Wings Sunday night at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum 5-1 in front of 6,628 fans to take a 2-1 lead in the IHL first round best-of-seven series.

Fort Wayne goals were scored by Keith Rodger, his first as a pro, Rick Varone, his first pro playoff tally, Mathieu Curadeau, David Hukalo and Justin Hodgman.  Rick Cleaver netted his first goal of the playoffs for Kalamazoo's only mark of the game.  Komet netminder Nick Boucher earned his second win of the post season stopping 37 of 38 Kalamazoo shots while Jason Tapp suffered the loss on 35 saves.

The Komets power play came to life netting three goals with the man advantage in eight chances.  Kalamazoo was 0/9 on the power play.

The series switches to Kalamazoo for game four Wednesday night at 7:00.  Game five will be in Fort Wayne Friday at 8:00pm. 

Still plenty of great seat locations are available for the Komets home playoff game Friday. Tickets are on sale at the Coliseum Ticket Office and online at www.ticketmaster.com

Fort Wayne vs. Kalamazoo First Round IHL Turner Cup Playoffs at a glance
Fort Wayne leads series 2-1
Game 1:  Friday, April 17 at Fort Wayne 3 Kalamazoo 1
Game 2:  Saturday, April 18 at Kalamazoo 3 Komets 2 (2 OT)
Game 3:  Sunday, April 19 at Fort Wayne 5 Kalamazoo 1
Game 4:  Wednesday, April 22 at Kalamazoo, 7pm (ESPN Radio AM 1380)
Game 5:  Friday, April 24 at Fort Wayne, 8pm (WOWO Radio AM 1190)
*Game 6:  Saturday, April 25 at Kalamazoo, 7:30pm (WOWO Radio AM 1190)
*Game 7:  Tuesday, April 28 at Fort Wayne, 7:30pm (Radio TBA)
*if necessary
All Komet playoff games will be webcast free at www.komets.com at Comcast KometCast.

Komet practice schedule in the week ahead
Tue. Apr. 21.......10am-noon at the Coliseum
Wed. Apr. 22... ..10am-11am at the Coliseum
Thu. Apr. 23.......10am-noon at the Coliseum
Fri. Apr. 24.........10am-11am at the Coliseum
Mon. Apr. 27.......10am-noon at the Coliseum
Komets Schedule

Cutting teeth......registering their first pro playoff points in the first week of the 2009 IHL playoffs include Sean O'Connor (1 assist Friday vs Kalamazoo), Brad MacMillan (1 goal Friday vs Kalamazoo), Danko Mironovic (1 assist Friday vs Kalmazoo), Rick Varone (1 assist Saturday at Kalamazoo, first playoff goal Sunday), and Keith Rodger (first pro goal Sunday).

OT in Kalamazoo Saturday was fourth longest game in Komet history.....Saturday night's 3-2 double-overtime loss in Kalamazoo was the fourth longest game in the 57-year history of Komet hockey lasting 94 minutes, 58 seconds.  The Komets have reached at least a second overtime session nine times and are 1-8 in those games.  The only Fort Wayne victory in a game that has gone past a single overtime period was last year's 3-2 Turner Cup Championship winning game vs. Port Huron which took three overtimes for a total of 100 minutes, 23 seconds. 

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.