Struggling Komets fall to Missouri

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The cold weather and an impending winter storm couldn’t keep 5,668 of the faithful from seeing the improving Komets play the top-ranked Missouri Mavericks. It didn’t take long though for the storm to be felt inside under surprising circumstances as Missouri managed a 5-4 victory at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.
The opening minute featured a major penalty and game misconduct to Komets forward Colin Chaulk for his hit on Missouri’s Nick Sirota, who left the game and did not return. Referee Colin Kronforst called it kneeing, but it really appeared as though the two players connected despite trying to avoid each other at the Komet blue line. It started a trend where the referee began to have too much influence on the game.
With the five minute man-advantage gift, Missouri connected on two of their first four power play shots. Carlyle Lewis, known more for his fists than his shot, unloaded his cannon from the blue line, high between the circles two minutes into the period for his seventh of the season and a 1-0 Mavericks lead. Less than two minutes later, a Komets’ miscue led to Mike Berry putting the finishing touches on a scramble in front of goaltender Nick Boucher to put Missouri ahead 2-0.  
Just over seven minutes into the contest, the Mavericks went back on the power play when Keith Rodger went off for high-sticking Derek Pallardy behind the Missouri net. About a minute into the man advantage, Mike Berry scored on a rebound, his second of the night and eleventh of the season, after Ray DiLauro sent his left point shot toward the goal. Robby Nolan was pulled for the extra attacker after another Komets penalty was about to be called and the Mavericks had a 3-0 lead.

After playing short-handed most of the period, the Komets finally got on the scoreboard when Tab Lardner picked up a rebound between the circles after Derek Patrosso’s initial shot was stopped. It was his tenth of the season and the home team had life. Just thirty-eight second later, the Komets narrowed the score on a goal by Art Podshendyalow, who went uncovered after the rebound was kicked back out in front by Robby Nolan. Fort Wayne had awakened the thawing crowd and it made for a tighter, action-packed game at 3-2.
Despite letting the Komets back into a game that could have quickly been closed out with three consecutive Maverick power play goals, Missouri increased their lead to 4-2 on a score by Toby Lafrance after a pretty passing play from Ryan Jardine and Derek Pallardy. The visitors from the Show-Me state were back in charge.
Fort Wayne’s last chance to get closer in the period occurred when they pressured the Missouri net on J.C. Drouin’s drive from the right point that beat Nolan, but caught the inside of the right post and bounced out the other side of the goal. Missouri ended the period with a 4-2 lead despite Fort Wayne leading in shots 12-11.
The second period was far less eventful with no scoring and fewer shots. Both teams continued to feel each other out and while there was end-to-end action on several occasions, the period was no comparison to the exciting first period. Still, both goalies needed to be sharp.
Nick Boucher stifled a point blank drive just over five minutes into the period and then with just over two minutes left in the period, made a remarkable acrobatic save with his paddle while lunging to his right to cover the wide open net. Fort Wayne kept the lead in shots 23-18, but the score remained 4-2 in the Mavericks favor.
The final frame opened with coincidental minor penalties which carried over from the second period. Missouri needed just 28 seconds to get their fifth goal when Ryan Jardine crashed the net after Toby Lafrance and Ray LiLauro put pressure on Boucher.
With just over seven minutes to go, the Komets mounted a late-game attack. Danko Mironovic took a slick pass from Bobby Philips, who was behind the Mavericks goal and one-timed a blast past Nolan, who didn’t have a chance. Then, just less than three minutes later, Derek Patrosso sent a creative pass back through his legs to a wide open Dan LaPointe, who made no mistake in pulling the Komets to within one.
The pressure continued and with less than ten seconds remaining, the Komets advanced up ice with the extra attacker. Art Podshendyalow accepted a pass to the open side of the Missouri net and let a wrister go that was snagged at the goal line by Nolan to preserve the victory with one second left.
Fort Wayne ended the game out shooting Missouri 41-24.
With the loss, the Komets’ record fell to 12-17-5 and returned to the bottom of the pack in the Turner Conference with 29 points. Missouri hit the 20-win mark and with a 20-13-3 record and for now, holds the top slot in the conference with 43 points.
Contact the writer at dennis.morrell@prohockeynews.com

Contact the photographer at john.rothwell@prohockeynews.com