Komets drop 4-3 shootout to Kalamazoo

Fort Wayne, IN 12/29/08 --- Skating their fourth game in four nights, the Komets suffered a shootout loss to the visiting Kalamazoo Wings Monday night at the Memorial Coliseum in front of a holiday crowd of 7,068.

Returning from a stint with the AHL's Norfolk Admirals, center Mathieu Curadeau netted the Komets first goal at 2:17, assisted by Colin Chaulk and P.C. Drouin. This early lead came as the result of a two-man powerplay. Seven minutes later, the Wings struck, establishing a brief tie till the Komets’ defenseman Brian Boulay scored his first professional goal off an assist by center Rick Varone. 

Komet right wing Sean O’Connor extended Fort Wayne’s lead early in the second with a goal assisted by Konstantin Shafranov. Center Colin Chaulk also dished an assist, his second on the night. The Komets’ 3-1 lead held through the rest of the period as netminder Tim Haun turned away six Kalamazoo shots and the Komets defense shut down two Wings powerplays, including the first portion of a 5-on-3, the remainder of which bled into the start of the third.

Kalamazoo cut into the Komets’ lead with a goal at 2:42 of the third frame.  The final four minutes of regulation were played shorthanded by the Komets while defenseman Brian Boulay sat out a double minor for roughing.  On the ensuing power play the Wings pulled goaltender Joel Martin for the extra attacker and managed to net the tying goal on the two-man advantage to force overtime.

After the overtime failed to produce a winner, a shootout followed, the Komets’ second shootout in four games. The teams traded goals during the first few rounds, extending the shootout into sudden death. Finally, the Wings came out on top, as left wing Anthony Battaglia scored in the 14^th round of the shootout, keeping the Komets winless in shootouts this season.

The win moves the Wings (18-10-0-0, 36 points) into a first-place tie with Port Huron while the Komets gain a point to improve to 15-10-1-2 for 31 points and third place in the IHL.

The Komets have the day off Tuesday before hosting the traditional New Year’s Eve game Wednesday against the Flint Generals at 7:30pm.

Still plenty of good seats remain at the Coliseum Ticket Office and online at www.ticketmaster.com.