Press release from the Komets:
Komets stumble at Flint 7-6 in overtime
Game 4 Friday in Flint; Game 5 in Fort Wayne Saturday(May 13, 2010) – The Komets and Generals traded goals throughout the game Wednesday night at Flint until the final buzzer of the third period with the teams knotted at a 6-6 tie setting up the first overtime of the 2010 IHL Turner Cup Finals.
Flint was first on the board with a pair of goals by Matt Moffat at 2:57 into the game and Mike Olynyk at 5:37. Then Fort Wayne’s Matt Syroczynski scored twice to tie the game at 2-2 before the Generals struck back with a tally by John Ronan to give Flint a 3-2 lead. Before the frist period could end, Syroczynski netted his hat trick at 10:28 only to be answered by Flint’s John Mori at 16:46 to send the game into the first intermission with Generals owning a 4-3 lead.
Syroczynski’s hat trick was Fort Wayne’s first road playoff hat trick since Keli Corpse scored three goals in a 6-2 Komet win at Missouri April 10, 2001. David Hukalo bagged a hat trick last year in the finals against Muskegon in a 7-1 win in Fort Wayne May 2.
Justin Chwedoruk opened the second period scoring at 1:18 to pull the Komets even at 4-4. Flint went ahead at 14:11 on a power play goal by Pascal Rheaume but the lead was quickly erased 39 seconds later by Fort Wayne’s Colin Chaulk for a 5-5 tied at the end of two periods of play.
The Komets took their first and only lead of the game at 14:08 of the third with Chwedoruk’s second goal of the night. Justin Hodgman assisted on the goal for his fourth assist of the night. It was the first time in seven years a Komet had four assists in a playoff game.
The Generals fought back with the extra attacker to tie the game with 10 seconds remaining in the third when Bryan Smolinski found the back of the net and sent the game into overtime.
Finally, Jamie Schaafsman scored the winner at 11:52 into the extra frame to give Flint their first win of the Finals.
Rob Nolan registered his first win of the series stopping 33 of 39 Fort Wayne shots while Nick Boucher posted his first Komet playoff loss in six games, ending a five-game win string. Boucher made 31 saves on 38 shots.
The Komets lead the best-of-seven series 2-1 with game four at Flint’s Perani Arena Friday at 7pm. Game 5 will be held in Fort Wayne Saturday at 7:30pm.
Tickets for Saturday’s game in Fort Wayne are on sale at the Coliseum Ticket Office and online at www.ticketmaster.com.
FORT WAYNE KOMETS VS FLINT GENERALS
2010 IHL Turner Cup best-of-seven Finals
Fort Wayne leads 2-1
- Game 1: Saturday, May 8 at Fort Wayne 3, Flint 2
- Game 2: Monday, May 10 at Fort Wayne 2, Flint 1
- Game 3: Wednesday, May 12 at Flint 7, Fort Wayne 6, overtime
- Game 4: Friday, May 14 at Flint, 7pm
- Game 5: Saturday, May 15 at Fort Wayne, 7:30pm
- *Game 6: Monday, May 17 at Flint, 7pm
- *Game 7: Wednesday, May 19 at Fort Wayne, 7:30pm
*If necessaryAll games in the Finals will be broadcast on WOWO Radio AM 1190 and webcast free at Komets.com Comcast KometCast.