In their first game since alternate captain Brett Smith guaranteed a playoff spot, the Komets lost 6-1 on Friday to the worst team in the Eastern Conference, the Evansville IceMen.
The teams meet again tonight at Memorial Coliseum, with the Komets three points back of the eighth and final playoff spot, with 20 games remaining.
Fort Wayne’s goal came from Thomas Beauregard.
Evansville (18-30-5) was paced by Kevin Baker’s two goals and two assists in front of 7,301 fans at the Ford Center.
Komets (26-24-2) goalie Marco Cousineau was pulled after allowing four goals on 16 shots. Charlie Effinger allowed 2 on 13 in relief.
Evansville’s Paul Dainton stopped 37 of 38 shots, handing the Komets their fifth loss in seven games.
AUTO RACING
NHRA results
Tony Schumacher raced to the Top Fuel qualifying in the NHRA’s season-opening Winternationals with a 3.758-second run at a top speed of 328.14 mph in Pomona, Calif. Jack Beckman topped the Funny Car field, and Mike Edwards had the Pro Stock lead. Beckman had a pass of 4.045 at 316.67, and Edwards finished in 6.528 at 212.39. The final two rounds of qualifying are set for today.
BASKETBALL
Hurt Butler player could play today
No. 11 Butler could have starting center Andrew Smith back for today’s game at Fordham, although the school had said he would miss both games this week with an undisclosed abdominal injury.
CROSS COUNTRY
Concordia senior chooses Wesleyan
Concordia senior runner Jacob Reinking will sign with Indiana Wesleyan next week.
FOOTBALL
Anderson player collapses, dies
Sophomore Xavier Walton, an Anderson University football player, died after he collapsed in an intramural basketball game Thursday.
TENNIS
Roundup
Serena Williams secured the No. 1 ranking after coming from a set down to beat former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 in Doha, Qatar, to reach the Qatar Open semifinals. Williams will play Maria Sharapova, who defeated 2011 U.S. Open champion Sam Stosur 6-2, 6-4. Victoria Azarenka defeated Sara Errani 6-2, 6-2. Despite the win, Azarenka will lose her No. 1 ranking to Williams. ...
In Rotterdam, Netherlands, Julien Benneteau upset Roger Federer 6-3, 7-5 in Rotterdam, Netherlands, to reach the semifinals of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament. …
In Sao Paulo, Rafael Nadal overcame a poor start and a difficult third set to beat Carlos Berlocq of Argentina 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in Sao Paulo and advance to the Brazil Open semifinals. …
In San Jose, Calif., John Isner advanced to the SAP Open semifinals in San Jose, Calif., for the first time in his career, overpowering Xavier Malisse 7-6 (8), 6-2.
