Coach Al Sims and captain Colin Chaulk retired, and now so has the goaltender who backstopped them to four championships between 2008 and 2012.The Komets have won five of their last seven games -- improving to 19-15-2 overall -- and they look much different than they did a few weeks ago.
"We really are (different)," center Brett Smith said, after he scored a goal in a 3-2 victory over the Orlando Solar Bears, who had won 4 of 5 before Sunday.
"Good defense leads to good offensive chances. They're not going to score much if we're down in their end. We're keeping the puck low and, in turn, we're battling hard in our own zone. We're getting big saves, we're chipping it out and we're finishing hits. We're finding ways to win right now and it's fun and exciting."
The Komets are doing it despite myriad injuries; they were without Colin Chaulk, Luca Caputi, Matt Kennedy and Brent Henley, who couldn't play because his knee brace was broken.
They got goals from Garrett Klotz and Corey Elkins, who has three goals and four points in four games with the Komets but could be one of several players called up to Norfolk of the American Hockey League as the NHL lockout is ending.
Goaltender Marco Cousineau stopped 26 shots in front of 6,758 fans at Memorial Coliseum, where the Komets are still one game below .500 this season.
Orlando dropped to 15-17-4.
To see photos from the game: Click here.
