Maybe the Fort Wayne Komets should start their road trips a little sooner.

The Komets are 2-2 so far on the road, but they have been outscored 6-1 and outshot 41-30 in the first periods.

“It's something to be aware of,” Komets captain Guy Dupuis said. “We might have to start getting a bit more ready in warm-ups. Maybe the first game of the week we're lagging a little bit, too. The game is 90 percent mental.”

In part, the Komets have to give credit to their opponents.

Fort Wayne has been the home-opening game for Dayton, Port Huron and Quad City, and Bloomington was extra fired up to take on the defending Turner Cup champions.

“We just have to better prepare ourselves,” winger P.C. Drouin said. “I think it comes with the start of the season when it takes you a bit to get going and as the game goes along, too. It's up to us to prepare ourselves mentally more.”

Facing that extra energy is unlikely to change tonight in Flint where the Generals will be introducing former NHL player Bryan Smolinski to their lineup.

“It doesn't worry me too much,” Drouin said. “We're a great road team and it's the start of the season.”

The Komets play only one game this weekend before skating in three-in-three-nights next week.

The Komets are not expecting to have Matt Syroczynski back from Norfolk of the American Hockey League until next week. Syroczynski played two games last week with the Admirals, getting one shot on goal and two penalty minutes while going minus-2. The Admirals play at Wilkes Barre-Scranton today and at Syracuse on Saturday.

The Komets will have defenseman/forward Brandon Warner ready to come off injured reserve Wednesday after missing the start of the season following hip surgery.

Forward David Hukalo is eligible to come off injured reserve but needs a little more time on his surgically repaired shoulder, according to Komets General Manager David Franke. Kevin Bertram can come off Nov. 17 with his hamstring injury.

Rookie defenseman Vince Tarantino is having more problems with his hip and will need another MRI. Then he'll be going to see the specialist in Indianapolis that Warner went to for his surgery.