Toledo Walleye suffer 4-1 home loss to Fort Wayne Komets

Toledo Walleye player Matt Abercrombie (25) shoots past Fort Wayne Komets player Simon Danis-Pepin (4) at goalie Ben Meisner (37) during the first period.

The Walleye's losing streak reached three games with a 4-1 setback to Fort Wayne tonight.

The game was tied at 1 after two periods. The Komets then scored the game winner on Shawn Szydlowski's power play goal with 13:42 left in regulation. Fort Wayne's Chris Auger iced it with an empty net goal with exactly one minute left and Aaron Clarke added another with less than a second remaining.

Max Shalunov scored in the first period for Toledo (21-42-5) before a crowd of 7,284 at the Huntington Center.

Toledo goalie Hannu Toivonen (12-14-0) finished with 27 saves.

The Komets took a 1-0 lead shortly after a Walleye power play expired midway through the first period. Fort Wayne scored when Brandon Marino tipped in a pass from Matt Carter.

But Shalunov tied it on assists from Kyle Rogers and Matt Abercrombie. Shalunov lifted in a shot over Fort Wayne goalie Ben Meisner (26 saves). But ref Tyler Puddifant waved off the goal initially, thinking it had hit the post. But after a brief review the goal was ruled good.

It was Toledo's first goal in seven periods – a span of two-plus game that had lasted 164 minutes and 30 seconds.

Fort Wayne scored the decisive goal just eight seconds into the man advantage when Szydlowski shoveled a loose puck into an open net.

The Komets (33-23-12) came into the game occupying the eighth and final playoff spot.

The teams meet again on Sunday at Fort Wayne.

The Walleye have just four games left in the regular season, including two at home next Friday and Sunday.