EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Ford Center has been a goal-scorers dream the past two weeks, with four consecutive Evansville IceMen games featuring ten or more combined goals. Friday was a rare low-scoring affair between familiar foes, as the IceMen scored two third period goals to upend the slumping Indy Fuel 2-1.
Kyle Stroh, scored the game’s first goal for the Fuel 4:54 into the game. A pair of Evansville defensemen stood up Alex Lavoie at the blue line, but the puck bounced to Stroh trailing the rush and he fired a wrist shot over the blocker of Scott Greenham. Stroh has scored three of his six goals against the IceMen this season.
Indy’s 1-0 lead held true through the second period that saw 12 combined shots. The IceMen generated just 13 shots through the first 40 minutes on Fuel goalie Shane Owen, while Greenham stopped 18 of 19 shots in the first two periods.
Greenham was stellar in the third period, as the fourth-year pro stopped several grade-A scoring chances. Evansville tied the game just over a minute into the frame, when Alex Wideman sent a quick snap shot over the glove of Owen for his fourth goal of the season. A long shift in the offensive zone led to the game-winning goal for the IceMen, as Alex Guptill’s shot was kicked out by Owen to Jordan Sims, who put away the rebound at 11:28.
With the win, the IceMen are now even with the Fuel in the standings and just two points out of eighth place in the Western Conference playoff race. Indy has now dropped 12 of its last 13 games.
Greenham stopped 28 shots in his fourth win of the season, while Owen turned away 20 in the loss. The two teams meet again Saturday at 7:15pm at the Ford Center, before the IceMen have a week off for the Holidays.
Saturday is Evansville’s annual Teddy Bear Toss game, where fans are encouraged to bring new or gently used teddy bears in plastic bags to the game. When the IceMen score their first goal, fans will throw the teddy bears onto the ice and the IceMen will donate those to 911 Gives Hope and other local children’s charities.
With Evansville IceMen team release
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