Weekend Recap: Fort Wayne Komets Get Back on Track

February 27, 2024 Joey Denney Fort Wayne Komets 0

Komets
Dalton Tinklenberg / Sports Media Pass

The Fort Wayne Komets looked to get back on track over the weekend after a recent skid that has seen them drop in the standings. With a pair of divisional matchups on the road there was an opportunity to finally turn their fortune. The Komets began their weekend in West Virginia on Friday for a matchup with the Wheeling Nailers before a trip to Toledo to take on the division leading Walleye on Sunday.

Friday, February 23rd: Fort Wayne Komets @ Wheeling Nailers

As the Komets took the ice on Sunday it became abundantly clear that they had some frustration to take out. To spark what they hoped to be a successful day, Komets’ enforcer Daniel “Diamond Hands” Amesbury dropped gloves and squared up with the Nailers’ Shaw Boomhower. The blows exchanged in the fight did not end their as each team looked to exchange blows in form of goals the rest of the way.

It was the Nailers that got on the board first with a goal three minutes into the opening period. The Nailers would add to their lead with yet another goal coming just over five minutes later. The beginning of this game may sound familiar as falling behind early has been a trend throughout the Komets’ current slump. However, this time the Komets would answer. The Komets would scored two goals (Marc-Antoine Pépin and Jack Dugan) over a 22-second span to tie the contest at two goals a piece after one.

The second period are where the Komets saw their first lead of the day as Alexis D’Aoust (assisted by Jack Gorniak and Marc-Antoine Pépin) scored eight minutes in. The Nailers would answer seven minutes later with a goal from Sebastian Dervin. At the conclusion of the second period the game was once again tied setting up an all important third.

Both teams struggled to find the net in the final period until a power play opportunity presented itself for the Komets just passed the half way point. The Komets would cash in on the power play with a goal from Ethan De Jong (assisted by Jack Dugan and Ture Linden). With time expiring the Nailers emptied their net for an extra skater and the Komets officially put it out of reach with an empty net goal from Nolan Volcan (assisted by #20 Jack Gorniak).

Final Score: Komets 5, Nailers 3

Sunday February 25th: Fort Wayne Komets @ Toledo Walleye

Fresh off of ending their losing streak the Komets turned their attention to the division leadering Toledo Walleye. The opening period of Sunday’s matchup got off to a slow start with both teams failing to score. The teams combined for just 14 shots on goal in the first setting up what appeared to be a slugfest the rest of the way.

The Komets jumped ahead in the opening minute of period No. 2 with a goal by Xavier Cormier (assisted by Jack Dugan and Shawn Szydlowski). They would add to that lead 14 minutes later when Griffen Fox (assisted by Alexis D’Aoust and Xavier Bernard) put one in the net. The Walleye would go on to score two goals in the final four minutes of the period bringing the game to a tie heading into the third and final period.

It took just over five minutes for the Komets to retake the lead in the final period with a goal from Nolan Volcan (assisted by Jake Chiasson and Cameron Supryka). The goal from Volcan ended up being the game winner as neither team would score the rest of the way. Despite being outshot in the contest 30-18 the Komets found a way to get it done in Toledo.

Final Score: Komets 3, Walleye 2

Summary and What’s Next?

It was a successful weekend for the Komets as they claimed all four available points over the weekend. They now move into a fourth place tie in the Central division with the Kalamazoo Wings. The Komets will be back in Toledo on Friday for another matchup with the Walleye before returning to the Coliseum for home matchups with the Wheeling Nailers and Indy Fuel.

Stay tuned to Sports Media Pass for all the latest on the Fort Wayne Komets!