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CHL Fort Wayne Komets

Komets Sweep Thunder for Five-Game Winning Streak

February 7, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Fort Wayne Komets News Release


Fort Wayne, IN | Monday, February 7, 2011 -- The Komets swept a home double-header against Wichita for the week and pulled to .500 on the season for the first time since Oct. 30. The K's improved to 18-18-5 for 41 points after 41 games and trail the top of the Turner Conference by 17 points with 25 games remaining.

The Komets have won five straight games, are 8-2-0 in the last 10 (.800), and have earned points in 17 of last 20 games (13-3-4) for a .750 pace since Dec. 22. Fort Wayne's win Sunday puts them on the cusp of 1400 home wins (regular season) since the franchise started in 1952 with 1399. The Komets attracted crowds of 6,966 and 10,011 for a home weekend attendance of 16,977 over the two-game series. Fort Wayne's season attendance average improved to 7,493 after 21 home games to rank third in attendance in all of pro minor league hockey.

Player movement for the week -- Mike Ratchuk (D) was recalled by Springfield AHL. Keith Rodger (D) was placed on waivers. Chris Francis (C) was placed on 10-day IR. Leo Thomas (C) and Brando Warner (D) remained on 30-day IR

THE GAMES LAST WEEK

Friday, Feb. 4, at Fort Wayne Komets 5 Wichita Thunder 4, shootout

Komets came back from a 4-0 deficit to tie the game in regulation and eventually win the game in a shootout. Tab Lardner scored a pair for this fourth two-goal game of the season. Netminder Nick Boucher snapped a four-game home winless streak with his third straight win after a pair of road wins. It was Fort Wayne's first Friday home win of the season in seven appearances.

Saturday, Feb. 5, at Fort Wayne Komets 5, Wichita Thunder 4

The Komets sweep the Thunder for the weekend home double-header series to take the season series 2-1 and push their winning streak to five games. It was Fort Wayne's 1399 home win since the franchise debuted in 1952. Nick Boucher extended his win streak to four games in his third straight start. Boucher improves to 13-10-4 and is 9-1-4 in his last 14 decisions (383/421.910 save percentage) since Dec. 22. Derek Patrosso extended his assist scoring streak to a current CHL-high nine games (1 goal, 14 assists). Tab Lardner scored a goal for a current CHL-high four-game goal-scoring streak (5 goals, 1 assist). Colin Chaulk dished three assists for a three-game assist streak. There were 205 total penalty minutes assessed in the match. 141 penalty minutes for Wichita, the most for a Komet opponent since Dec. 9, 2006 at Elmira (167, 5-3 win).

ABOUT THIS WEEK

Wednesday, Feb. 9, Bloomington PrairieThunder (24-15-2, 50 points) at Fort Wayne Komets (18-18-5) 7:30pm ET

The Komets will face the PrairieThunder for the first time since Bloomington handed the K's their last loss, 4-3, in Bloomington's most recent appearance in Fort Wayne Jan. 22. The Komets are 2-3-0 against the PrairieThunder after five meetings but are winless (0-3-0) in three home matches against Bloomington. It's the fourth of five Thunder visits and the sixth of 10 meetings overall this season. The PrairieThunder are eight points out of first place in the Turner Conference and are 5-2-1 in their last eight games. Bloomington only skated one game last week due to games rescheduled because of inclement weather, Saturday, a 3-2 loss to the visiting Quad City Mallards.

Friday, Feb. 11, Quad City Mallards (24-19-1, 49 points) at Fort Wayne Komets, 8pm ET

The Komets will face the Mallards for the first time since Jan. 9 when Quad City and the Komets battled to a 0-0 regulation tie before the Mallards snagged a 1-0 overtime win.

Goalies Nick Boucher (FW) and David Brown (QC) stopped all shots in regulation time before center Joel Gasper finally solved Boucher with Quad City's first shot 11 seconds into the extra frame. The Mallards are 3-4-1 in their last eight outings after splitting a pair of games last weekend. Friday's game will be the eighth of 10 meetings this season as the Komets are 2-3-2 against Quad City after seven. The Mallards will host Colorado Tuesday before traveling to Fort Wayne Friday.

Saturday, Feb. 12, Fort Wayne Komets at Dayton Gems (21-17-4, 46 points), 7:30pm ET

The Komets will make their sixth of seven trips to Dayton's Hara Arena Saturday (2-2-1). The K's are even against the Gems after nine meetings at 4-4-1. Five meetings remain. The Komets took a 2-1 win from the Gems at Dayton in the last meeting Jan. 8. The Gems are 1-3-1 in their last five after winning their only game of the week last week 3-2 at Quad City Saturday. Dayton skates at Evansville Friday before hosting the Komets Saturday.

Sunday, Feb. 13, Evansville IceMen (15-23-5, 35 points) at Fort Wayne Komets, 5pm ET

It will be the Komets' fourth game in five nights when they host the IceMen Sunday and the third of six Fort Wayne Sunday matinees. The Komets suffered a 4-3 overtime home loss to the IceMen Jan. 14 in the last meeting and are 2-2-1 after five clashes with Evansville. Sunday's visit is the fourth of seven for the IceMen. The Komets are 1-1-1 when skating against Evansville on Coliseum ice. The IceMen are idle this week until they host Dayton Friday and welcome Quad City Saturday before traveling to Fort Wayne Sunday.

Komet leaders -- Tab Lardner leads with 17 goals since joining the Komets from Missouri Nov. 26. Lardner had three goals and seven assists during his brief stint with the Mavericks for season totals of 20 goals, 12 assists and 32 points going into week 18 of 2010-11. P.C. Drouin leads the K's with 22 assists. Colin Chaulk tops the team in plus/minus with a plus-14. Craig Cescon leads with 110 penalty minutes and goaltender Nick Boucher leads with a 13-10-4 record and .900 save percentage after 28 appearances.

Things that make you go Hmmm -- The Komets lead the CHL with a home power play efficiency of 24.4%, but have the worst road power play at 13.8% and have a seven-game road winning streak (The Komets have not lost a road game in 2011).

JON MIRASTY TO JOIN KOMETS WEDNESDAY -- The Komets announced Monday that left winger Jon Mirasty will join the Komets Wednesday and is expected to be in the lineup wearing number 7 when the Komets host the Bloomington PrairieThunder at 7:30 Wednesday night. Mirasty, 28, started this season, his eighth as a pro, appearing in 16 games with the AHL's Syracuse Crunch before skating a brief stint with the ECHL's Elmira Jackals. In his 16 games with Syracuse Mirasty accumulated no points and 74 penalty minutes. In eight games with Elmira the 5-foot-10, 220-pound skater scored a goal and 45 penalty minutes. The Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan native scored one goal, six assists and 751 penalty minutes in 182 AHL games. Mirasty has skated with the AHL's Crunch four seasons including 2010-11 and will be on loan to the Komets from Syracuse.

Great seats available -- Tickets for all Komet home games are on sale at the Coliseum Ticket Office and online at www.ticketmaster.com. The Komets offer discounts on group tickets sold at the Komet office at 1010 Memorial Way. For more information visit the Komet office, call 260-483-0011 or visit the Komets' website at www.komets.com.

Friday night MARATHON NIGHTS -- Friday nights are Marathon Nights at Komet home games. Fans can take advantage of a buy-one-get-one-free ticket offer with three fill-ups when the Komets host the Quad City Mallards this Friday at 8pm. Fill Up Cards are available at participating Marathon stations.

Komet Hockey on News Talk 1190 WOWO -- Bob Chase is celebrating his 58th consecutive season behind the Komet microphone broadcasting radio-rinkside and can be heard on News Talk 1190 WOWO and at www.komets.com where games are webcast at Xfinity KometCast.

Komets.com -- The official website for the Fort Wayne Komets is www.komets.com. In addition to live gamecasts, the Komets' home on the web also features news, stats, interactive fan features and information as well as real-time scoring via the CHL and Pointstreak.

Check out the Fort Wayne Komets Statistics

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