The Komets hoped to go into the playoffs with positive momentum. Now, they’re trying to avoid going in with an extended losing streak.

They lost 5-2 to the Indy Fuel on Friday – it was their third straight loss – and they finish the regular season Saturday against the Fuel at Memorial Coliseum.

That could be an interesting game, based on the physicality Friday, when Cody Sol fought Dylan Clarke, Will Weber scrapped with Brandon Wong and there was a late-game shouting match between Fort Wayne captain Jamie Schaafsma and Indy captain Nick Petrecki.

The Komets, who haven’t won since wrapping up the Midwest Division title, could have nabbed the second seed for the Western Conference playoffs with a victory. They still could tonight, depending on what happens at late games with Colorado (at Alaska) and Idaho (against league-best Missouri).

A crowd of 6,176 took part in fan appreciation night at Indiana Farmers Coliseum, where before the game fans were able to paint the ice with logos that took up three-quarters of the surface. The Fuel also announced interim coach Bernie John, who is 5-6-1 since replacing the fired Scott Hillman, had been given the job for next season.

Wong opened the scoring on a shot from the left circle 9:40 into the first period and teammate Cody Sharib scored off a rebound 1:08 later. Fort Wayne’s David Friedmann answered with a 25-foot shot that sailed through a crowd at 18:48.

On its 14th shot, the Fuel took a 3-1 lead on a 40-foot shot from Daniel Ciampini just as goaltender Spencer Martin was run into by Alex Lavoie, who then got in a post-goal scrum with Garrett Meurs. Fort Wayne’s Shawn Szydlowski netted a power-play goal at 7:47 with a blast from the left circle.

Indy cemented the victory with goals from Anders Franzon on a 50-foot shot during a power play and from Ben Marshall on a one-timer in front.

Martin stopped 25 of 30 shots. Indy’s Keegan Asmundson stopped 39 of 41.

Notes: Toledo’s Shane Berschbach won the ECHL’s Sportsmanship Award, after voting by coaches, reporters, broadcasters and media-relations directors. He had 24 goals, 67 points and only six penalty minutes in 60 games. … The Komets will hand out their team awards after the game Saturday.