Fuel Bit by Five Unanswered Goals in 6-3 Loss to Beast
December 7, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Indy Fuel News Release
BRAMPTON, ONTARIO - After building an early lead, the Indy Fuel (8-10-1-1) surrendered five consecutive goals en route to a 6-3 loss to the Brampton Beast Wednesday in front of a school day crowd of 5,020 at Powerade Centre. The Beast's comeback was powered by a three-goal second period, which handed the Fuel their fourth straight loss in what was the first test of a five-game road swing.
Indy - winless in its last five contests dating back to Nov. 23 - now travels to Pennsylvania for a Friday-Saturday doubleheader against the Reading Royals.
Brampton and it's fourth-ranked offense outscored the Fuel 3-0 in the second period to turn a 3-2 Indy lead into a two-goal cushion for the home team. Luc-Olivier Blain provided the equalizer at 4:55 of the frame, finishing a broken play from the slot for his third of the season. Just under three minutes later David Vallorani provided the eventual game-winning goal with his second of the afternoon, swatting home his own rebound from off the right post.
A similar second-chance effort by Brampton made it 5-3 at 13:33, when Brandon Marino won a battle to a loose puck, chipping it behind Fuel goaltender Eric Levine.
Indy pressed in the third period but could not solve Beast netminder Zachary Fucale, after beating him three times in a span of 4:44 in the opening period. Forward Scott Jacklin tacked on an empty net marker at 18:54 to seal Brampton's victory in the first of five this season between the two clubs.
The Beast opened the scoring 5:39 into play with David Pacan's 12th goal of the season, but the Fuel were quick to storm back with three unanswered goals in short succession. Matt Rupert converted a Tyler Barnes centering pass to tie the game at 1-1 with a power play goal at 8:15, before Tyler Currier beat Fucale off the left post just 1:47 later. Indy leading scorer Alex Wideman finished the rally with a cannon under the crossbar at 12:59, picking up his 10th goal of the season. Barnes recorded an assist on Wideman's tally, completing a multi-point effort in his first game back from recall with the AHL's Rockford IceHogs. In two games with the Fuel, Barnes has seven points (1g, 6a).
Vallorani scored the first of his two goals at 14:12 of the first period to stem Indy's momentum and cut the deficit to 3-2.
Levine suffered the loss, stopping 27 of 32 Brampton shots on net. Despite his team being outshot 35-33, Fucale grabbed his seventh win of the campaign with a 32-save performance.
Both teams scored their first goals of the game via the power play; the Fuel finished the afternoon 1-for-5, while the Beast ended the game 1-for-1. The next four meetings between Indy and Brampton will take place at Indiana Farmers Coliseum, beginning with a pair of weekday tilts on Dec. 20 and 22.
Next Home Game: Saturday, December 17 vs. Quad City Mallards - 7:35 p.m. (Teddy Bear Toss) The fur is ready to fly again during one of the most exciting promotions of the season! Bring new and gently used stuffed animals to the game, then throw your plush projectiles onto the ice after the Fuel score their first goal! Each fuzzy friend collected will be donated to Toys For Tots in time to make the holidays brighter for Children around Central Indiana.
Single-game tickets are now available for the third season of Fuel hockey in Indianapolis at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum box office or at all Ticketmaster locations. Ticket Plans of all sizes are also available, from Full-Season Plans to six and three-game packages, in addition to Group Ticket options. Learn more by visiting IndyFuelHockey.com or calling 317-925-FUEL. Stay up to date throughout the offseason by following the Fuel on Twitter and Instagram (@IndyFuel) and don't forget to 'Like' the Fuel on Facebook.
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