K s lose to Nailers in game capped by fracas
JUSTIN A. COHN | The Journal Gazette
About the closest thing you’ll find to a certainty in the ECHL is the Komets beating the Wheeling Nailers when they play at Memorial Coliseum.
But tonight was the exception to the rule. The Nailers got a 4-3 victory over the Komets, who have won 20 of the last 24 games between the teams here.
The waning seconds saw Wheeling’s Austin Fyten knee the Komets’ Anthony Petruzzelli, setting off a melee and likely putting him in the crosshairs of ECHL discipline. The Wheeling players then engaged in a shouting match with Fort Wayne fans and the Nailers’ Chad Duchesne swiped at a fan with his stick.
K s docked home game for players refusal to play
JUSTIN A. COHN | The Journal Gazette
The Komets organization has been punished by the ECHL for its players refusing to play a game May 4 against the Indy Fuel in Indianapolis, after one of the Fuel s players tested positive for COVID-19.
The Komets forfeit the game – it will be recorded as a 1-0 Fuel victory – but more significant may be the loss of a home game May 29. That game, against the Fuel, will now be in Indianapolis instead of Memorial Coliseum.
“The Fort Wayne Komets are in agreement with the ECHL regarding the game that was to be played on May 4 in Indianapolis. Our players opted not to travel for the game even though all ECHL protocols that had been agreed to prior to the season had been met,” Komets president Michael Franke said in a news release.
Katie Fyfe | The Journal Gazette
Komets forward Anthony Petruzzelli chases the puck during the first period against the Indy Fuel at Memorial Coliseum on Friday.
Katie Fyfe | The Journal Gazette
Komets forward Matthew Boudens carries the puck during the first period against the Indy Fuel at Memorial Coliseum.
Katie Fyfe | The Journal Gazette
Komets forward Justin Vaive carries the puck during the first period against the Indy Fuel at Memorial Coliseum on Friday.
Katie Fyfe | The Journal Gazette
The Komets celebrate after Anthony Petruzzelli scores the first point of the game during the first period against the Indy Fuel at Memorial Coliseum on Friday.
Zack Rawson | Special to The Journal Gazette
Komets goaltender Stefanos Lekkas, middle, has been the backup with the NHL s Buffalo Sabres the last two nights. Previous Next
Tuesday, May 04, 2021 7:40 pm It s been a ride : Lekkas signs deal with Sabres
Still expected to rejoin Komets, he s backing up Houser again
JUSTIN A. COHN | The Journal Gazette
Stefanos Lekkas was in the Komets’ net April 10. Now he’s on an NHL contract, one nod from coach Don Granato away from going into a game for the Buffalo Sabres.
It’s not expected that Lekkas, a rookie out of the University of Vermont, gets to play in the NHL this season. The injury riddled Sabres have only two remaining games. And former Komets goalie Michael Houser looked pretty good in his NHL debut Monday, stopping 34 shots in a 4-2 victory over the New York Islanders, even if he was the sixth netminder the league-worst Sabres have used this season.