The Tahoe Knight Monsters squared off against the Fort Wayne Komets on Saturday in their forty-second game of the season, looking to steady the ship during a difficult stretch. As the ECHL affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights, Tahoe entered the night sitting third in the Western Conference’s Mountain Division with a 22-15-4 record. Despite their solid standing, the Knight Monsters were searching for solutions after dropping three straight games, including a recent loss to the Bloomington Bison. On the other side, the Fort Wayne Komets, the ECHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers, came in trending upward. Second in the Western Conference’s Central Division at 22-10-6, Fort Wayne brought plenty of momentum into the matchup, fresh off back-to-back wins over the Cincinnati Cyclones and riding a four-game winning streak overall. With Tahoe aiming to snap its skid and the Komets looking to stay hot, this interconference showdown was an important test for both clubs.
The Tahoe Knight Monsters hit the ice in a solid playoff position, but with the pressure starting to rise as they worked to snap their losing streak. Early execution was a clear priority. When Tahoe has jumped out to strong starts this season, it has often set the tone for success, while playing from behind during this recent skid has made it difficult to establish their preferred pace. Special teams also stood out as a potential difference-maker, with the Knight Monsters needing to capitalize on power-play opportunities to prevent momentum from swinging the other way. Meanwhile, the Fort Wayne Komets arrived as one of the hottest teams in the conference, leaning on balanced scoring and dependable goaltending during their surge. Riding a four-game winning streak, the Komets had consistently shown the ability to protect leads and close out games, a sign of a confident group finding its rhythm. Fort Wayne’s goal was clear: dictate the tempo early and put Tahoe in a position where it would have to chase the game. All of it created a compelling contrast in momentum. The Komets were pushing to extend their run, while the Knight Monsters were searching for a response to halt their slide and regain their footing in the standings. The opening goal loomed large, especially for a Tahoe team eager to rebuild confidence. Even in a cross-division matchup, the points carried significant weight as both clubs continued their push toward the postseason.
#34 Jordan Papirny got the start in net for the Tahoe Knight Monsters. It was his nineteenth game in net this season for Tahoe. #31 Nathaniel Day
got the start in net for the Fort Wayne Komets. It was his twenty-second start this season for Fort Wayne.
A minute into the game, Austin Magera of the Fort Wayne Komets was called for high-sticking. Four minutes into the game, #74 Kirill Tyutyayev scored to give the Fort Wayne Komets the lead. His goal was assisted by #42 Alex Aleardi and #88 Matt Copponi.
With under seven minutes left in the first period, the Komets scored to take a two-goal lead. The goal was scored by #72 James Stefan. His goal was assisted by #17 Matt Berry and #24 Austin Magera.
With under two minutes left in the first period, the Komets scored to take a three-goal lead. The goal was scored by #88 Matt Copponi. His goal was assisted by #15 Dru Krebs and #42 Alex Aleardi.
The Fort Wayne Komets were leading the game 3-0 after the first period.
With under six minutes left in the second period, Austin Magera of the Fort Wayne Komets was called for tripping. Neither team scored in the second period. The Komets still had a 3-0 lead going into the third period.
A minute into the third period, #24 Austin Magera scored to give the Fort Wayne Komets a four-goal lead. His goal was unassisted.
Six minutes into the third period, #9 Blake Murray scored to give the Komets a five-goal lead. His goal was assisted by #3 Reece Harsch and #74 Kirill Tyutyayev. Following this goal, the Tahoe Knight Monsters pulled goaltender #34 Jordan Papirny. He was replaced by #1 Jack Bostedt.
Nine minutes into the third period, #72 James Stefan scored to give the Komets a six-goal lead. His goal was assisted by #24 Austin Magera.
The final score was 6-0, Fort Wayne Komets.
Saturday night was one the Tahoe Knight Monsters will want to forget quickly after a tough. Simply put, this was a bad loss for Tahoe in just about every phase of the game. The Knight Monsters were unable to generate any offense, getting shut out and struggling to create sustained pressure or high-quality chances. For a team already trying to snap a skid, failing to find the back of the net only added to the frustration and made it difficult to build any momentum at any point in the night. The defeat also extends Tahoe’s losing streak, a stretch that is starting to become a real concern. Confidence can be fragile during runs like this, and right now the Knight Monsters look like a group searching for answers. Breakouts weren’t clean, offensive-zone time was limited, and the usual spark just wasn’t there. When things aren’t clicking offensively, the margin for error everywhere else becomes razor-thin, and Fort Wayne took full advantage. Credit goes to the Komets, who continue to roll at exactly the wrong time for Tahoe. Fort Wayne’s winning streak keeps growing, and they’ve now posted back-to-back shutouts, showing just how locked in they are defensively and in goal. They controlled the pace, capitalized on their opportunities, and never really allowed the Knight Monsters to climb back into the game. For Tahoe, the bottom line is simple: something needs to change. Whether it’s adjustments to the lines, a tweak in system play, or just a renewed sense of urgency, the current formula isn’t producing results. There’s still time to correct course, but the Knight Monsters need a response soon. Games like this can’t become the norm if they want to stay firmly in the playoff picture.
The Fort Wayne Komets had 4 more shots on goal. The Tahoe Knight Monsters had 35 total shots on goal. The Fort Wayne Komets had 39 total shots on goal. The Fort Wayne Komets had the better shots percentage. The Tahoe Knight Monsters had a 0% shots percentage. The Fort Wayne Komets had a 15% shots percentage. The Tahoe Knight Monsters had both of the power plays in this game. The Tahoe Knight Monsters were 0-for-2 on the power play for 0%. The Fort Wayne Komets were 0-for-0 on the power play for 0%. The Fort Wayne Komets had 4 more penalty minutes. The Tahoe Knight Monsters had 0 total penalty minutes. The Fort Wayne Komets had 4 total penalty minutes. #34 Jordan Papirny played 46 minutes in net for Tahoe. He saved 30 of 35 shots for a save percentage of 85% for Tahoe. #1 Jack Bostedt played 13 minutes in net for Tahoe. He saved 3 of 4 shots for a 75% save percentage. Overall, the Tahoe Knight Monsters saved 33 of 39 shots for a save percentage of 85%. #31 Nathaniel Day saved 35 of 35 shots for a save percentage of 100% for the Fort Wayne Komets. It was the third shutout of the season for Day. This is the second time this season that the Tahoe Knight Monsters have been shutout. The last time they were shutout was in a 0-2 loss to the Greensboro Gargoyles on Friday, November 14th, 2025. This is not the most goals the Knight Monsters have allowed in a single game this season, nor is it the biggest deficit they have faced this season.
The Tahoe Knight Monsters have a record of 22-16-4 with 48 points in 42 games. The Tahoe Knight Monsters have lost their last four games. The Tahoe Knight Monsters are now in tenth place in the ECHL. The Knight Monsters are still in fifth place in the ECHL Western Conference. The Knight Monsters are still in third place in the ECHL Western Conference Mountain Division. The Knight Monsters are fourteen points away from the top spots in the ECHL, the ECHL Western Conference, and the Mountain Division. The Knight Monsters are nine points away from second place in the Mountain Division. The Tahoe Knight Monsters are now tied with the Allen Americans in points. Tie breakers are currently keeping the Knight Monsters in third place in the division. The Knight Monsters could slip into fourth place as soon as today. Tahoe are still nine points into a playoff spot. They are not in danger yet of slipping out of a playoff spot.
The Tahoe Knight Monsters are set to face the Fort Wayne Komets in their forty-third game of the season. The puck is dropping on Sunday, February 1st, 2026, at 2:00 PM.
Zac Electrifly 
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