FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Rick Varone scored four points on two goals and two assists to help the Fort Wayne Komets to a 6-4 International Hockey League victory Saturday over the Bloomington PrairieThunder at Allen County Memorial Coliseum before 9,464 people.

The Komets scored four goals in the second period to run their record to 6-2, while Bloomington dropped to 4-4.

Varone scored his first goal 6:46 into the game off an assist from Konstantis Shafranov. Brett Holmberg countered with his first goal of the season and his first of back-to-back goals with 11:32 remaining in the first period on an unassisted effort.

Holmberg then gave the PrairieThunder a 2-1 lead 63 seconds later off assists from Brent Clarke and Adam Tomkow.

Fort Wayne responded with two quick goals of its own to start the second period as Shafranov scored consecutive goals within a 24-second period for a 3-2 lead. Colin Chaulk had assists on both goals along with Varone.

Geoff Rollins tied the score for the PrairieThunder off an assist from Travis Granbois with 16:05 remaining in the second period before the Komets took the lead for good on the first of two straight Guy Dupuis goals with 14:33 remaining on a power play. Chaulk and Mathieu Curadeau had the assists.

Dupuis scored again with 4:46 remaining in the second period off an assist from Varone, who scored the final goal on a power play for the Komets with 11:57 left in the game off assists from P.C. Drouin and David Hukalo.

Adam Tomkow scored his first goal of the season for the PrairieThunder off an assist from Holmberg with 4:50 remaining in the game to complete the scoring.

Scott Fankhouser took the loss for the PrairieThunder in goal. He stopped 23 of 29 shots and 4 of 6 power play attempts. Nick Boucher earned the win for the Komets by stopping 24 of 28 shots and all six power play attempts.

“We have to tighten up the penalty kill,” said PrairieThunder coach Jarrod Skalde. “It’s hurt us all season and it hurt us again tonight.”

Bloomington was whistled for 56 minutes in penalties while Fort Wayne was guilty of 46 minutes.

The PrairieThunder returns to action with back-to-back home games Friday and Saturday at 7:05 p.m. game against Port Huron and Muskegon, respectively, at U.S. Cellular Coliseum.

Friday is Faith Night with the Christian rock band DecemberRadio playing at a post-game concert. A ticket to the game allows fans free admission to the concert.

Saturday is the annual Guns and Hoses Day at U.S. Cellular Coliseum with members of the Bloomington police playing members of the Bloomington fire department in hockey prior to the PrairieThunder contest.

The PrairieThunder will wear specialty jerseys depicting the Guns and Hoses theme during its game. The jerseys will be auctioned off after the game with a portion of the proceeds going to Special Olympics Illinois.

Tickets, beginning at $13, are on sale at the Coliseum box office; by calling 309-454-550 or at www.prairiethunderhockey.com.