The Komets have won only one of four games, but general manager David Franke isn't panicking about the uncharacteristically poor start.

“We're not going to panic,” he said. “We've played four games. We've got things we've to work on. We know that. We think the group we've got is still a good group. You can't make total judgments after four games.”

As Franke sees it, heading into a home-and-home series with the team's bitter rival, the Toledo Walleye (2-1-1), the problems are as follows: A power play unit that ranks 22nd among the ECHL's 27 teams with an efficiency of 10.5 percent; the inability to break the puck out of the defensive zone, which has led to myriad turnovers; and the Komets' average of 20.5 penalty minutes per game.

But all of that pales in comparison to the offensive problems; the Komets have averaged only 2.25 goals per game, ranking 25th in the league.

“The biggest thing we've got to do is score more goals,” Franke said. “We've can't expect to win games 1-nothing or 2-nothing. We've got to (show) more offensive firepower. We've got to generate more offense to take the load off of our goalies.”

In fairness, the Komets lost their captain, Jamie Schaafsma (upper body), and one of their top offensive players, Garrett Ladd (concussion), to injuries during the opening weekend. Neither will be back tonight at Memorial Coliseum, though Joseph Widmar could make his season debut. And Taylor Crunk will be back from his two-game suspension for a post-game cross-check at Cincinnati.

The Komets also sent new acquisitions Justin Kea and J.C. Campagna onto the ice last weekend, in home-and-home losses to the Kalamazoo Wings, with just a couple of days of practice, and Fort Wayne is counting on them to be big offensive producers.

Part of the reason no transactions were made this week was so the lineup could jell.

“Sometimes, again, with our defensive corps and with our forward group, it's a connection of five guys. We need all five guys connecting and being on the same page,” coach Gary Graham said. “Everyone has to understand that if a D man is in, someone has to back him up. We can't have three forwards in on offense; someone has to be above it (holding back). ... It's just situational hockey. It's very coachable and very teachable and you want to get things buttoned up.”

Note: Young fans are invited to wear Halloween costumes tonight and participate in the annual on-ice parade.

jcohn@jg.net