Komets Top IceMen in Back-And-Forth Thriller
December 4, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Evansville IceMen News Release
EVANSVILLE, IN - The rivalry between the Evansville IceMen and Fort Wayne Komets was renewed Friday in the first of six meetings this season between the two Hoosier State teams. The 3,768 Ford Center fans were treated to a back-and-forth high-scoring game, as the Komets ultimately upended the IceMen 7-5.
Former Greenville center Nikita Kashirsky scored his first of two goals on a rebound at 7:05 of the opening period to give the Komets their first of three leads in the game. Evansville's Jordan Sims, a Fort Wayne native, tied the game on a Nathan Moon centering feed to even the score entering the first break.
The Komets tallied three goals in the second period, the first of which was blasted in from Cody Corbett on a delayed Evansville penalty. Again the IceMen tied the game when Alex Guptill tipped in a Vincent Dunn centering pass for his fourth goal in his last three games. Brett Perlini put Fort Wayne ahead for good on the team's only power-play when he beat IceMen starting goalie Cody Reichard through the five-hole at 13:58 of the frame.
54 seconds later, Kashirsky struck again to give the Komets a 4-2 lead heading into the second intermission when he quickly snapped a one-timer into the top corner after Dominic Alberga won a boards battle in the IceMen zone.
The third period was Evansville's craziest of the season as the teams exchanged goals three times. IceMen center Daultan Leveille capped a highlight-reel wraparound with a backhander into the top shelf to make it 4-3. But Fort Wayne answered with its first of two short-handed goals in the stanza when Jamie Schaafsma skated around the last IceMen back, before beating Reichard to pad the Komets' lead.
Reichard left the game with 9:21to play when he was run into by Garrett Meurs in a scary collision at the net, and Keegan Asmundson finished the game. On the ensuing power-play, Leveille scored his second of the game on a rebound at the goal-mouth to once again cut the lead in half.
However, Fort Wayne provided the knockout punch when two IceMen players collided in the neutral zone which led to a short-handed 2-on-1. Komets forward Garrett Thompson buried a one-timer past Asmundson on Mike Embach's set-up pass. With Asmundson pulled for the extra attacker, Matthew Zay tapped in a loose puck to make it 6-5, but Schaafsma flipped a late backhander into the empty net to finish the six-goal period and preserve the 7-5 win for Fort Wayne.
The next meeting between the two teams is Sunday, December 13 at Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, and the Komets return to Evansville again February 9.
The IceMen finish off their three-game home stand Sunday, when the Quad City Mallards come to the Ford Center for the first of six meetings this year. The game will start at 5:15pm and is the first of Evansville's Subway Family Nights. For $21, fans can purchase a Goal Zone or Corner ticket to the game and receive a free IceMen t-shirt and vouchers for a free popcorn and soda.
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from December 4, 2015
- Steelheads Sink Everblades 5-1 - Florida Everblades
- Rush Split Road Trip - Rapid City Rush
- Komets Top IceMen in Back-And-Forth Thriller - Evansville IceMen
- Americans Win Wild Affair 3-1 over Rapid City - Allen Americans
- Cyclones Edge Swamp Rabbits 7-6 in High-Scoring Affair - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Late Goal by Wings Grounds Jackals, 3-2 - Elmira Jackals
- Cyclones Battle Hard All Night, Win Thriller in Overtime - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Gilbert's Buzzer Beater Heels Jackals - Kalamazoo Wings
- Monarchs Dethrone Royals, 3-2 - Manchester Monarchs
- Foster, Nailers Fight Away Stingrays, 3-2 - Wheeling Nailers
- Royals Fall in First Game Ever in Manchester, 3-2 - Reading Royals
- Beast Battle Hard But Drop Close One to Thunder - Brampton Beast
- Walleye Top Fuel 5-2 - Indy Fuel
- Stingrays Can't Capitalize in 3-2 Loss at Wheeling Friday Night - South Carolina Stingrays
- Toledo Powers Past the Fuel 5-2 - Toledo Walleye
- Madore Recalled from Solar Bears to Marlies - Orlando Solar Bears
- Lagace, Smith, and Ully Join Steelheads - Idaho Steelheads
- ECHL Transactions - December 4 - ECHL
- Nailers Trade Mike Gunn to Allen Americans - Wheeling Nailers
- Solar Bears Name Nielsen, Baier Captains - Orlando Solar Bears
- Americans Acquire Big Defenseman from Wheeling - Allen Americans
- Massa Returns to Solar Bears from Marlies - Orlando Solar Bears
- ECHL All-Star Assigned to Kalamazoo - Kalamazoo Wings
- Game Notes: December 4 vs. Greenville - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Nailers vs. Stingrays Game Day Snap Shot - Wheeling Nailers
- Albany Assigns Wedgewood, Recalls Appleby - Adirondack Thunder
- Jackals Face-Off against Kalamazoo on Teddy Bear Toss Night - Elmira Jackals
- Monarchs Announce Flurry of Roster Moves - Manchester Monarchs
- Senators Sign Kyle Flanagan - Adirondack Thunder
- Evansville Forward Penny Recalled by Binghamton - Evansville IceMen
- Gameday: Adirondack vs. Brampton - Adirondack Thunder
- ECHL Today - December 4 - ECHL
- Weekend Preview: IceMen Host Komets and Mallards - Evansville IceMen
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
