The Komets’ failed attempt to clear the puck down the middle of the ice in overtime gave Luke Pither an open shot and a goal in the Wheeling Nailers’ 3-2 victory at WesBanco Arena on Saturday night.

It was the Komets’ first ECHL game at Wheeling, W.Va., and they were outshot 39-18 by the Nailers.

As they did in the 6-4 loss at Reading, Pa., on Friday night, the Komets coughed up a third-period lead. With Brandon Marino in the penalty box for slashing, Andrew Hotham tied it at 2 at 13:34 of the third period, in front of 2,597 fans.

The Komets got goals from forwards Luca Caputi, off a rebound, and Ryan Lasch, on a wraparound.

Caputi has three goals and six points in the last three games. Lasch has five goals and 12 points in the last six games.

Fort Wayne (12-10-2), which is 3-2-1 in its last six games, plays host to the Kalamazoo Wings today.

Wheeling (7-10-5) snapped a four-game losing streak with the victory.

Goaltender Charlie Effinger stopped 36 shots for Fort Wayne. Scott Darling stopped 16 for the Nailers, who got the only shot of the 50-second overtime.

Prior to the game, goalie Marco Cousineau was called up to Norfolk of the American Hockey League, after he went 1-1-0 with a 3.71 goals-against average and a .888 save percentage for the Komets.

Cousineau, a prospect of the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks, hadn’t played since Nov. 3 because of a groin injury. He was the backup in Norfolk, Va., on Saturday night.