Playing three games in three nights might have just about killed new Komet Justin Chwedoruk, especially considering the games started during the middle of the night for his usual sleep cycle.

Chwedoruk was living in Copenhagen, Denmark, playing for the Herlev Hornets when the team folded before the season began. Then he got another job with a team in Switzerland, but the team folded on the day it was supposed to work out a flight for Chwedoruk. He even had another offer from a team in England before it realized it couldn't afford to pay him as promised.

“I just decided it was time to come home and play over here,” Chwedoruk said. “It's really hard to find jobs playing hockey, especially once the season has started in Europe.”

So he went home to Edmonton for two days before coming to Fort Wayne. Despite playing only four exhibition games in Denmark, Chwedoruk's legs looked strong last weekend as he scored a goal and an assist in the three games.

Have you ever wondered how long it takes for a fighter's hands to feel good again?

“It always hurts after,” Komets forward Brad MacMillan said. “It just depends on where you punch and how many you land as to how long it's going to hurt afterward.”

Because he's so hopped up on adrenaline, a player never feels until well after a fight how many times he hit another player's helmet or face. They just know it's going to hurt.

MacMillan said his hands were still hurting two weeks after his recent fight with Jason Lawmaster. Each morning MacMillan takes two pills and waits for his hands to warm up. Sometimes after a fight they'll put their hands in an ice bath.

When they get to the rink before practices or games, players often soak their hands in a paraffin bath. They dip their hands in 10 to 12 times, put on a plastic bag and then slip a mitten over their hands to keep the warmth inside.

“It depends on if I hit the guy or not,” defenseman Keith Rodger said with a grin. “If I miss the guy and get hit a lot, then my face just hurts for a little bit.”

Rodger said sore hands sometimes affect his stickhandling ability after a fight.

With two goals so far this season, veteran defenseman Guy Dupuis has 102 regular-season markers in his Komets career. That's three off the all-time record of 105 for a blueliner, set by Jim Burton.

Since they struggled so much at the start of the season on special teams, the Komets have dominated over the last few weeks with the main advantage or disadvantage.

The Komets' power play started out successful on just two of its first 19 attempts but has gone 11 for 45 since. The penalty kill gave up 10 goals in its first 38 chances but has allowed only three goals in 41 chances since.

The Komets have not allowed a power-play goal at home in 28 chances over five games.

Since the Komets started playing on Thanksgiving night in 1959, they have gone 31-15-4, including 29-14-2 in Fort Wayne. They have won eight of their last 11 games on the night, though usually it's a close game and also one of the longest games of the season.

They've played even better on New Year's Eve, going 36-13-4 and winning seven in a row.

P.C. Drouin skated his 300th game as a Komet on Saturday. … After a 3-3-1 start, Muskegon has won eight games in a row. The Lumberjacks' last loss was Oct. 31 in Fort Wayne. … Home teams continue to dominate the IHL with a 32-13-5 mark. … Muskegon is scoring on 26 percent of its power plays at home but only 9.7 on the road. … The Komets are 4-0 in overtime and shootouts. Last year they were 3-3 in overtime and 2-9 in shootouts.