Forward Brett Perlini, a key player each of the last two seasons, is back with the Komets. They acquired him today from the Wichita Thunder for center David Friedmann in their third trade of the last eight days.

Perlini, 26, totaled 32 goals and 65 points in 109 regular-season games for the Komets between 2014 and 2016. He was also productive in the postseason with five goals and 14 points in 22 games, helping them to the Western Conference finals last season.

The Komets had dealt Perlini, a seventh-round draft pick of the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks in 2010, to the Rapid City Rush last summer to complete a deal for Daniel Barczuk. After totaling nine goals and 12 points in 25 games with the Rush – he had a team-worst minus-15 rating – Perlini was traded to Wichita last Friday for Logan Nelson.

Perlini’s stint with Wichita lasted two games, in which he was scoreless. A versatile player, Perlini was reliable previously for the Komets on faceoffs.

Friedmann, 23, had seven goals and 13 points in 27 games this season, after totaling four goals in six games last season as a rookie fresh from Robert Morris University.

The Komets (19-9-3) have won six of their last eight games but battled injuries and inconsistent play. After forward Taylor Crunk returned to the lineup Wednesday, for the 6-2 victory over the Quad City Mallards in Moline, Illinois, the Komets remain without six regulars from their lineup: goalie Pat Nagle (high ankle sprain), forward Garrett Thompson (lower body), defenseman Cody Sol (knee), defenseman Gabriel Beaupre (concussion), forward Trevor Cheek (with Tucson of the American Hockey League) and defenseman Bobby Shea (Rochester of AHL).

Last week, the Komets acquired goaltender P.J. Musico from Greenville and defenseman Kyle Flemington from Wheeling, both trades being for undisclosed amounts of cash, and subsequently goalie Eric Hartzell left the team to play in Germany and forward Stephon Thorne was released. Thorne was claimed off waivers by Brampton, which is coached by Thorne’s former teammate in Fort Wayne, Colin Chaulk.

The Komets play host to the Mallards (18-11-2) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Coliseum, where they will retire No. 19 in honor of Terry McDougall, and they play at league-best Toledo on Sunday. The Komets’ two-time team MVP, Shawn Szydlowski, wrote on Twitter he will likely wear No. 19 the remainder of the season, at McDougall’s behest.

The Komets are in third place in the Central Division, eight points back of Toledo and two behind Tulsa, with 41 games remaining.

Note: Goaltender Spencer Martin, who played last season for the Komets, was selected an All-Star in the AHL.

jcohn@jg.net