Once again, the Komets and Florida Everblades went to overtime.
This time, the Komets won.
Alex Aleardi scored at the end of an odd-man rush to complete a 2-1 come-from-behind victory for the Komets (10-4-1) on Friday at Memorial Coliseum before a crowd of 7,410.
The three-time defending Kelly Cup champion Everblades, who have the ECHL°®¶¹app™s best record (13-3-1), scored a 5-4 overtime victory Thursday.
°®¶¹appœIt felt excellent to finish it off and beat arguably the best team in the league. That°®¶¹app™s what we think we are °®¶¹app“ the best team in the league °®¶¹app“ and getting a chance to prove that is important for our group,°®¶¹app said Aleardi, who was a member of the Everblades°®¶¹app™ 2022 Cup-winning squad.
The teams meet for a third time in as many nights at 7:30 p.m. today.
Fort Wayne°®¶¹app™s Anthony Petruzzelli tied it 5:10 into the third period, off the rebound of a Darren Brady shot. Goaltender Connor Ungar finished with 24 stops in the best performance of his rookie season. He had pivotal overtime saves on Oliver Chau and Anton Malmström.
It was fitting that Aleardi scored the winner because he was seemingly everywhere, doling out hits, receiving hits, drawing penalties and firing a game-high seven shots.
°®¶¹appœThat°®¶¹app™s the type of player I am, that°®¶¹app™s what I bring to the game, is a little bit of adversity and intensity and a chip on my shoulder. I try to draw penalties and get under guys°®¶¹app™ skins, so there°®¶¹app™s nothing new there,°®¶¹app said Aleardi, whose Komets have the best winning percentage (.700) in the Central Division.
°®¶¹appœI got a couple (penalty) calls (on Florida) tonight by moving my feet and earning them, so it°®¶¹app™s a good feeling.°®¶¹app
Aleardi has a team-leading eight goals and 16 points. He had to step up with the Komets°®¶¹app™ leading point-getter, Odeen Tufto (six goals, 20 points), leaving with an undisclosed injury after only one shift. Brady also missed most of the first period getting stitches.
°®¶¹appœAlex is a guy who°®¶¹app™s not going to be deterred that they°®¶¹app™re playing him hard. He°®¶¹app™s got enough experience and he gives it right back,°®¶¹app Komets coach Jesse Kallechy said. °®¶¹appœI thought he had his legs tonight and he was good around the puck and away from it, too. It was fun to see him work how he did tonight and great to see him get rewarded.°®¶¹app
The Everblades°®¶¹app™ win Thursday came thanks to a Carson Gicewicz overtime goal. Fort Wayne netminder Brett Brochu stopped 31 shots and Florida°®¶¹app™s Cam Johnson stopped 33. The Komets twice squandered two-goal leads in that game.
Friday had a matchup of backup goalies. Ungar, an Edmonton Oilers prospect, was 3-3-0 with the ECHL°®¶¹app™s worst goals-against average (4.67) and worst save percentage (.850). Cranley, who°®¶¹app™s contracted to the American Hockey League°®¶¹app™s Springfield Thunderbirds, was 4-2-0 with a 2.00 GAA (seventh in ECHL), a .929 SP (ninth) and one shutout.
°®¶¹appœWe have full faith in (Ungar),°®¶¹app Aleardi said. °®¶¹appœHe°®¶¹app™s on an NHL contract for a reason. He°®¶¹app™s building his résumé, building his game. He just proved tonight he can play with the best of them.°®¶¹app
°®¶¹appœFor (Ungar) to do this against the best team in the league, that°®¶¹app™s good,°®¶¹app Kallechy said. °®¶¹appœHe made some timely saves when we needed them. I thought he controlled his rebounds well tonight. For him to have a game like that I°®¶¹app™m proud of him. It hadn°®¶¹app™t been easy on him mentally.°®¶¹app
