CINCINNATI, Ohio – The Indy Fuel (14-15-2-0) keep gaining steam on the heels of the ECHL’s holiday break, extending a post-Christmas winning streak to three games with a decisive 5-1 victory over the Cincinnati Cyclones (13-10-2-2) Tuesday night at U.S. Bank Arena. Indy’s resurgent offense broke a first-period stalemate with four unanswered goals, matching their season-high scoring output.
Ten different Fuel skaters logged points as Indy defeated Cincinnati on the road for the second time in as many tries this season. Cody Sharib notched a goal and an assist while Peter Schneider and Derek Roehl each added two assists – providing plenty of run support for goaltender Mac Carruth to win his fourth-consecutive start The victory drew the Fuel and the Cyclones to an even 30 points in the Midwest Division standings, where they sit in a three-way tie with the Fort Wayne Komets for second place.
A fast and physical first period began with the two clubs trading power play goals, with Indy drawing first blood on a 5-on-3 advantage. With Zach Budish and Nick Huard both in the penalty box, Garett Bembridge delivered his team-leading 10th goal of the season 2:05 into the game. A blistering one-timer from the slot set up from Roehl gave the Fuel an early 1-0 lead and gave Bembridge his first goal in eight games.
Cincinnati responded with a power play marker from their own leading goal scorer to tie the game 1-1 midway through the period. Jack Downing converted a feed from Mike Ratchuk to grab his 13th goal of the campaign at 13:58.
Matt White scored his second goal in as many outings to regain the lead for the Fuel at 17:48, depositing a rebound behind Cyclones netminder Brandon Whitney. After Whitney juggled a shot from Roehl from the high slot, White was able to elude his defender long enough to flip the loose puck into the net on his backhand.
Indy added to its lead early in the second as Sharib marked the first of his two points with his ninth goal of the season 53 seconds into the frame. Rookie forward Michael Colantone provided the primary assist on Sharib’s tally, his first point as a professional.
With the Cyclones pressing to get back into the game, the Fuel put the game out of reach with two goals in 36 seconds midway through the third period. Alex Lavoie capitalized on a broken play in front of Whitney at the 12:00 mark for his ninth goal of the season, and defenseman Ben Marshall made it 5-1 the next shift when he joined a 3-on-2 rush and finished a net-mouth pass from Sharib. Marshall now has goals in two straight outings and points in four of his last five (2g, 2a).
Carruth continued his strong stretch of play stopping 22 of 23 shots, his best work coming during a third-period double-minor penalty by Schneider. The netminder has given up one goal in each of his last four starts, all ending in victory. Whitney turned aside 20 shots out of 25 faced on the losing side of the decision.
Indy wraps up its 2015 schedule on New Year’s Eve at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in the first half of a home-and-home set with the Komets, wrapping up on January 1 at Indiana Farmers Coliseum. The Fuel finish a stretch of four games in five days on Saturday night when they host the Wichita Thunder on Youth Hockey Night.
With Indy Fuel team release
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