For once, there was no questioning the Komets' effort or their scoring chances.

But still, they couldn't finish them off.

They lost 1-0 to the Wheeling Nailers today at Memorial Coliseum, despite outshooting the Nailers 44-29.

Paul Crowder netted the winning goal during a power play, with 3:37 remaining, after the Komets failed to clear the puck from the defensive zone.

"We certainly still expect to make the playoffs," forward Eric Giosa said. "We expect to make a push. We've just got to get some goals in the net and string together some wins."

The Komets have lost 7 of 8 games, scoring only 12 times along the way, and the skid has dropped them to 27-28-2. That puts them eight points back of Elmira for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, with 15 games remaining.

"This was just a microcosm of the whole season," Fort Wayne coach Al Sims said. "We haven't been able to score much all year and tonight, (goaltender Peter) Delmas, we either made him look good or he played unbelievable. It doesn't matter which. The fact of the matter is we couldn't get a goal despite 44 shots."