ECHL: Fort Wayne Komets Stave Off Elimination, Force Game 6 Tuesday

The Fort Wayne Komets headed into game five of the series down 3-1 to the Cincinnati Cyclones. In this do-or-die game, the Komets needed to get off to a good start, and that’s what happened. Fort Wayne peppered the Cyclones goalkeeper, Warm, with 17 shots in the opening frame but couldn’t find the back of the net. Fort Wayne forward Matt Boudens, who has been having issues staying out of the box all season, took the first of his eventual three minor penalties during this game in the 1st period. Still, fortunately, it was an offsetting penalty. Less than five minutes into the 2nd period, the Komets broke through and struck first blood with Samuel Dove-McFalls 2nd of the postseason. Shawn Boudrias, the teams leading goal scorer during the regular season, got the monkey off his back halfway through the 2nd and put the Komets up by two. By the end of the 2nd period, the Komets were outshooting Cincinnati 35 to 19. The Cyclones, Louie Caporusso, scored 1:09 into the 3rd period to cut the lead in half. Later, the Komets captain, Anthony Petruzzelli, gave the home team an insurance goal as he battled in front of the net and, as he often does, came in clutch. But not so fast, as Fort Wayne fans are used to this season, nothing comes easy for this team, and they always have to make things more dramatic. With less than two minutes left in the 3rd period, Cincinnati strikes again and strikes fear into Komets nation. Komets goaltender Ryan Fanti stood tall and made some big saves to help close out the game and put the Komets within one win of tying up the series as it heads back to Cincinnati for games 6 and 7. As the Komets are used to, there were post-whistle activities in front of the Komets bench involving everyone except the goaltender, which would result in 50 minutes in penalties and three misconducts. The Komets get the 3-2 win in what could be their final home game of the season.