INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Sparked by the dynamic 46-save performance of goaltender Jake Hildebrand, the Indy Fuel defeated the Cincinnati Cyclones Saturday night at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum, 3-0.
In game one of a two-game series between the two teams this weekend, the first- year pro from Michigan State University posted his third shutout of the season and his first on home ice much to the delight of the Fuel’s second largest crowd of the season, a thunderous throng of 5,070.
With Hildebrand air-tight and at the top of his game, the Fuel offense came alive in the second period, striking to the tune of a three-goal assault in 7:24 with the first two goals delivered 2:21 apart. Playing for a second consecutive night with a rather makeshift lineup due to injuries and AHL call-ups, the Fuel launched their 3-goal attack at the 4:11 mark when transplanted center Bryn Chyzyk fired his 4th goal of the season to lift Indy into a 1-0 lead. That seemed to be all Hildebrand and company needed. Ryan Keller also notched his 4th at 6:32 before defenseman-turned-right wing Chris Williams stashed his 3rd to cement the Fuel success. Former Cyclones’ left wing Josh Shalla acted the role of playmaker extraordinaire, producing the primary assist on both the Chyzyk and Williams strikes. Chyzyk also achieved a two-point effort with 1 goal and 1 assist.
Shalla and Chyzyk each attained masterful plus-3 ratings in the victory as Shalla continued his point producing prowess, having engineered 10 points in the last 6 games on 3 goals and 7 assists. In his last 14 outings, the 5-year pro has percolated 17 points on 9 goals and 8 assists.
The #1 Star of the game, though, was Hildebrand who raised his record to 12-10-3, accounting for 12 of his club’s 13 wins and 7 of their 8-triumphs on home ice.
The same two teams will tangle Sunday in a 3:05 matinee encore presentation at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum with the 12 game season series all even at 4-4-0. Sunday will be the Fuel’s “Family Fun Day.”
Indy is now 1-1-0 through the initial two games of its extended 6-games’ home stand.
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