INDIANAPOLIS – Avoiding the playoff needle from hitting empty, the Indy Fuel fended off a late surge from the Kalamazoo Wings for a 4-3 victory Wednesday night at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum. Despite the loss, the K-Wings dropped their magic number for clinching a playoff berth to three points.
The Fuel struck first midway in the opening period with a goal from Kirill Gotovets (7th). Finding space between the circles, Gotovets beat goaltender Joel Martin with a wrister from atop of the left circle. 
Beating out three Fuel players behind the net, Dane Fox (26th) got to the loose puck and scored on a wrap-around to tie the game 1:09 into the second period.
Sneaking into the slot, Kyle Stroh (23th) regained the lead for Indy with a one-timer 4:50 into the stanza.
Kalamazoo evened the game at 2-2 midway in the period, when Matt Caria found Patrick Kennedy for his 12th goal of the season. Caria extended his point streak to six games with the helper, while Gergo Nagy, who also received an assist, increased his point streak to five games.
Reclaiming a lead for a third time, Nick Jones scored on a rebound 13:29 into the period to put the Fuel ahead 3-2.
Earning his first pro goal to force overtime, Justin Kovacs scored equalizer from between the circles with 1:23 remaining.
Never trailing in the contest the Fuel kept their playoff hopes alive with a goal from Justin Holl (7th) with 33 seconds remaining in overtime.
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