INDIANAPOLIS,IN – The Indy Fuel exploded for a season-high six goals Friday night and defeated the Kalamazoo Wings at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum 6-2. In the process, the Fuel brought to a halt a seven game’ winless streak as they posted their first victory since October 27th.
High-flying right wing Nathan Noel ignited the Fuel offensive assault with a pair of electrifying shorthanded goals 3:43 apart while center Cam Reid delivered the ultimate game winning goal to catapult the victors into a 3-1 lead at the first intermission; though Indy was outshot 18-6 as the Wings were the recipients of six power play advantages with five of those coming consecutively. The three-goal opening period uprising represented the Fuel’s first three goals of the first period on home ice this season.
The two teams traded goals in the middle stanza with Nick Bligh connecting on his team-best sixth of the season on a crafty assist from Reid, who authored a masterful 3-points performance for the hometown team.
The Fuel completed their command performance with two unanswered third period strikes with Alex Wideman notching his team-high third power play goal of the campaign and fifth of the season before Tommy Olczyk found the empty net for his fourth goal of the season.
First-year goaltender Etienne Marcoux posted his first pro win with a stellar 45-save masterpiece as the Wings outshot the Fuel, 47-23. Ironically, the 47 shots were the second most surrendered by the Fuel thus far this season while their 23 shots were their fewest of the year.
The Indy special teams shined Friday night as the power play ended an 0-for-19 drought, going 1-for-3 with two of those man advantages short-circuited due to Fuel infractions. Kalamazoo was 1-for-11, being presented with a bevy of opportunities. The Fuel opponents are only 1 for the last 17 and 2 for the last 25 with the extra man.
The Friday victory not only halted the Fuel 7-game winless slide, it also severed a 3-game losing skid at home where the club had not gained a victory since back on opening night, October 21st in the form of a 3-2 shootout success over Tulsa. In addition, the victory was the Fuel’s first in six games this season against their own Western Conference Central Division and their first win in seven games for the month of November.
Game three of the six-game home stand is set for Saturday night at 7:35 pm at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum where the Fuel will host the Tulsa Oilers on Marvel Super Heroes Night.
Follow us on Twitter @prohockeynews
You must be logged in to post a comment.