IceMen Fall in Preseason Opener at Fort Wayne

Twice Friday night, the Evansville IceMen bounced back from two-goal deficits  in its preseason opener, but were unable to do so a third time, falling 6-5 to the Fort Wayne Komets at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.

The Komets scored two power-play goals 1:09 apart in the middle of the first period after Evansville center Jordan Sims was called for a high-sticking double minor. Late in the frame, Mark Anthione buried a rebound after Daultan Leveille carried the puck the full length of the ice. Chris Carlisle ripped a wrist shot into the net with 1:04 left in the period to tie the game.

Evansville fell behind by two goals again in the second period, after the Komets scored twice in the first 2:01. It could have been three, had IceMen goalie Christoffer Bengtsberg not stopped a Komets penalty shot in the opening minute with a flashy stick save.

Again, the IceMen fought back, as Justin MacDonald and Joe Zarbo tallied goals in the latter half of the second period to even the score 4-4 at the second intermission.

The penalty kill let Evansville down early in the game and again in the third, as Fort Wayne scored 3:40 into the period on the man-advantage, its third of the night. The Komets added an insurance goal at 17:13, which turned out to be the game-winner, as Evansville’sMatt Harlow scored 30 seconds later.

The IceMen’s third comeback attempt fell just short, as Fort Wayne hung on for th 6-5 win, its first of the preseason. The two teams will play one more exhibition game Saturday night in Fort Wayne at 7:30pm.