Walleye edge Komets 3-2, getting 2 Hawkins goals

The Komets know, perhaps better than anyone, just how dangerous a scorer Brandon Hawkins can be.

He showed it again Saturday night, scoring two goals, including a scintillating lacrosse style shot he tucked underneath the crossbar while coming out from behind the net, to lead the Toledo Walleye to a 3-2 victory over the Komets in front of 8,033 fans at the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio.

Hawkins was the Komets’ MVP last season, when the Komets captured the Kelly Cup, but his rights reverted back to Toledo, which had opted out of last season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mario Culina stopped 40 shots for the Komets. Liam Hughes had been expected to play but, instead, equipment manager Skylar Garver was an emergency backup. No reason for Hughes’ absence has yet been given.

Toledo’s Max Milosek stopped 40 shots, too, allowing goals to Connor Jones and Kellen Jones.

The Komets play host to the Kalamazoo Wings at 5 p.m. Sunday at Memorial Coliseum, where they lost 4-2 on Friday to the Indy Fuel.

jcohn@jg.net