FORT WAYNE, IN- The Wheeling Nailers and Fort Wayne Komets wrapped up their quick two-game exhibition series on Sunday afternoon at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. The final score was identical to Friday’s opener at WesBanco Arena, but the path was different. Fort Wayne erased a 2-1 deficit with three goals in the third period, to prevail 4-2 on home ice. Scott Kirton and Kevin Gursoy were the goal scorers for the Nailers.
One goal was scored during the first period, as Fort Wayne cashed in on its lone power play. Hunter Johannes fired a high shot from the left side, which ended up hitting teammate Alex Aleardi, who was parked above the left side of the crease. Aleardi dropped the puck onto his stick, then slipped a pass a couple of feet to his right for Jack Gorniak, who tapped the puck into the vacant right side of the twine.
Wheeling turned things around in the middle frame, starting with a power play goal of its own. Mitchell Smith dished a pass across the blueline to C.J. Valerian at the right point. Valerian let a wrist shot go, which was tipped into the cage by Scott Kirton at the 5:09 mark. 1:47 later, the Nailers took their first lead of the afternoon. Mitchell Haight leaped into the air at the right point to glove down a potential clearing attempt by the Komets. The great defensive play was immediately rewarded, as the puck navigated its way to the top of the crease, where Kevin Gursoy deked to his backhand, and flipped a shot into the top shelf…