Press release from the Komets:
Komets extend win streak to five games
Clinch first round home ice advantage
Mallards return Saturday
Generals visit for regular season finale Sunday
Shafranov says goodbye
(April 12, 2010) The Komets completed week 26 of 2009-10 riding a five-game winning streak after collecting four wins for the second-to-last week of the regular season schedule. The second-place Komets improved to 48-21-1-3 and reached 100 points for the fourth consecutive year and the sixth time in the last seven seasons.
The Komets have locked in home ice advantage for the first round of the playoffs. First-place Muskegon has two games remaining and leads the Komets, who have a game in hand, by five points with a magic number of two for clinching the Huber Trophy. Any combination of points won by Muskegon or lost by Fort Wayne equaling two will keep the Komets from winning the season title four straight seasons. If the Komets finish in second place, they will face the Port Huron Icehawks in a first round, best-of-seven series. Playoff dates and times are yet to be determined.
About last week
The week started with a 3-0 shutout over the visiting Muskegon Lumberjacks Wednesday. Nick Boucher earned his third shutout of the season, sixth as a Komet, making 27 saves and stopping all six Muskegon power plays.Friday the Komets turned back the visiting Dayton Gems 7-4. The Komets set a new Fort Wayne franchise record in the game scoring three goals in 39 seconds, beating the old record of three goals in 45 seconds set in 1962 against Sudbury.
Saturday the Komets clinched home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs with a 5-2 win at Dayton. Leo Thomas bagged the first hat trick of his Fort Wayne career including the game winner.
Sunday the Komets completed the week by doubling up the visiting Quad City Mallards 8-4. Matt Syroczynski netted his second hat trick of the season as the Komets extended their win string to five games while goalie Boucher also enjoyed his fifth straight win in his 11th straight start.
Streaking Komets…..P.C. Drouin has a five-game point and assist streak (3g, 8a)…..Leo Thomas (C) has points in four straight games (4g, 4a)…..Sean O’Connor (RW) has a three-game goal and point streak (4g, 1a)…..Frankie DeAngelis (D) has assists in three straight games (5a).
The week ahead
The Komets will complete the regular season schedule this week with three games in three nights starting with the first of a home-and-home series against the Mallards Friday at Quad City at 8:05pm Fort Wayne time.Saturday the Komets and Mallards return to Fort Wayne for a 7:30pm faceoff. It will be the last meeting of the season with the Komets leading the series going into this week’s action 11-1-0-1. The Mallards had a three-game win streak until the Komets stopped it Sunday 8-4.
Sunday the Komets appear in their 58th regular season finale against Flint at 5pm. The Komets lead the season series against the Generals 5-4-0-2 and are 4-1-0-0 against Flint on Fort Wayne ice. The Generals are 2-4-0-0 in their last six after suffering a 7-4 loss against Muskegon Sunday. Flint hosts Bloomington Friday and Muskegon Saturday before traveling to Fort Wayne Sunday. The Komets will present their annual end-of-season player awards immediately following the game Sunday.
Shafranov leaving for World Championships……The Komets announced Sunday prior to the opening faceoff of the game against the Mallards, that left winger Konstantin Shafranov’s appearance in the game would most likely be his last with Fort Wayne. The 19-year veteran finished his sixth full season with the Komets and celebrated by scoring two assists in the victory. Shafranov has decided to represent his native Kazakhstan in the 2010 Hockey World Championships in May. The entire Komet organization wishes the best for “Shaf” and his family and good luck at the World Championships.
Season Ticket Exchange Night Sunday…..Hey season ticket holders! The Komets will have one final Season Ticket Exchange Night this Sunday. Any unused ticket from a previously scheduled 2009-10 Komet home game can be exchanged at the Coliseum Ticket Office for a ticket to this Sunday’s Komet home game against the Flint Generals at 5pm.
KOMETS PLANNER
Komet games this week
Friday, April 16…………….Komets at Quad City Mallards, 8:05pm (Fort Wayne time), WOWO Radio AM 1190
Saturday, April 17…………Quad City Mallards at Komets, 7:30pm, WOWO Radio AM 1190
Sunday, April 18…………..Flint Generals at Komets, 5pm, WOWO Radio AM 1190All games broadcast on radio are webcast free at www.Komets.com Comcast KometCast.