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 Indy Fuel

Fuel Pit Stop Weekly: Week 25

April 3, 2017 - ECHL (ECHL)
Indy Fuel News Release


LAST WEEK'S RESULTS: 3(2-0-1) 11-8

FRI. MAR. 31 FUEL 4 AT TOLEDO 1

SAT. APR. 1 FORT WAYNE 5 AY FUEL 4 (OTSO)

SUN. APR. 2 CINCINNATI 2 AT FUEL 3 (OTSO)

THE FINAL WEEK'S GAMES: (3)

TUES. APR. 4 QUAD CITY AT FUEL 7:35 PM

FRI. APR. 7 TOLEDO AT FUEL 7:35 PM (FAN APPRECIATION NIGHT)

SAT. APR. 8 FUEL AT TOLEDO 7:15 PM

NEXT HOME GAMES: TUES. APR. 4TH VS. QUAD CITY 7:35 PM; FRI. APR. 7TH VS TOLEDO 7:35 PM

*** ALL INDY FUEL GAMES, HOME AND AWAY, BROADCAST LIVE ON INDIANAPOLIS' CBS SPORTS 1430 ***

THE FUEL REVIEW: As they approach the final week of the 2016-17 ECHL regular season schedule, the Indy Fuel have suddenly emerged as one of the more torrid teams in the league. With one week and three games remaining on their 72-games slate, the "Fuel-men" have fortified their grip on 6th place in the ECHL's Western Conference Central Division standings by 5-full points over 7th place Wichita. Through 69-games, the Fuel crew have assembled a record of 69(22-40-7) totaling 51-points. They commence the season's final week seeking to solidify their better standing against a Wichita club which does have one game in hand with a mark of 68(20-42-6) for 46-points. The hometown team has launched the month of April as they climaxed the month of March with more winning ways. Indy has collected 3 of a possible 4-points in 2-outings at 2(1-0-1), garnering those important points at the expense of archrivals Fort Wayne and Cincinnati.

FUELIFIED AND GALVANIZED: The Fuel enter the final week of the campaign riding the rising rapids of an impressive 5-games undefeated streak composed of a mark of 5(4-0-1) as they have amassed 9 of a possible 10-points in the process. Their 5-games' unsullied skein represents the club's second longest of the season. Indy's last taste of the bitter brine of defeat came back on March 24th in Greenville to the tune of 5-4. Moreover, the Fuel are 7(5-1-1) in the last 7-starts; 9(6-2-1) over the last 9-decisions and 12(7-3-2) through the past dozen dates. They recently completed their best month of action thus far this season in March when they posted their best winning month of the year at 12(6-4-2). This eclipsed the team's only previous winning month back in November when Indy recorded a 12(6-5-1) mark.

FAN APPRECIATION NIGHT: The Fuel extend a stick tap to the greatest fans in the ECHL for our final regular season home game of 2016-17! Indy and Toledo will face-off on fan-painted ice, and fans can stick around post-game to bid for your favorite players game-worn sweater. A variety of prizes and giveaways will be awarded throughout the game, and the first 1,000 ticket holders in attendance will receive a special gift!

KEYSTONE BAR & GRILL SAMPLING: Visit the Keystone Bar & Grill booth Friday in the Indiana Farmers Coliseum lobby and sample some of their delicious BBQ Chicken & Bacon Mac & Cheese! While you are there, grab a coupon to save $1.00 on any variety of Keystone Bar & Grill's signature mac and cheese from participating Kroger locations.

HOME/ROAD REVELRY: During this current Fuel renaissance, they have been equally adept and adroit, both at home as well as on the road. Indy has accumulated 5 of an available 6-points in its last trio of appearances at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum through a record of 3(2-0-1). On foreign ice, for the first time this season, the Fuel have won 3-in a row and 4 of their last 5-starts in enemy territory; 5(4-1-0).

FINAL FINISH FOR FUEL: This upcoming week, the Fuel face their last 3-games of the season with 2 of those on the docket for home ice and the later one, the last one of the season, game #72, set for Toledo. Tuesday night Central Division opposition comes from competition provided by the Quad City Mallards. The Fuel have compiled a mark of 9(2-5-2) in 9-tests with the "Quad Squad" while registering a scant single success in 5-previous encounters here in Indy. However, that one victory was achieved in the Mallards last appearance here when Indy outlasted the Quad Citians, 8-7, back on March 19th.

Following the Tuesday night contest, the Fuel will cap the campaign on the weekend when they commence a season-ending, 2-games home-and-home series with league-leading, high-powered Toledo. The Walleye, swimmingly move into town set to capture the Central Division, Western Conference and league regular season crowns. Then it's on to Toledo to cap the campaign on Saturday night for the second round of the Fuel and the Walleye. The Fuel are 3(1-2-0) in 3-previous battles with the Toledoans.

WINNING WEEKEND WONDERS: Confronting yet another daunting weekend assignment consisting of 3-games in less than 72-hours, the Fuel garnered 5 of a possible 6-points through a composite log of 3(2-0-1). Opening the weekend and closing the month of March Friday night at torrid first place Toledo, the Fuel executed an impeccable masterpiece in utterly subduing the league-leaders, 4-1. Flaws were few under the most scrutinizing microscope as Indy surmounted a 1-0 second period deficit with 4-consecutive strikes, 2 in both the second and third stanzas to douse the Walleye, 4-1. The victors stung the Walleye with a record-breaking, history-making 2-goals' :09 apart early in the middle frame of the game to vault into a 2-1 lead. Troy Vance (GTG) and Paul Zanette (TBG/GWG) cannonaded thrusts before Matt Rupert and Woody Hudson caged third period singletons to solidify the command performance. Mike Neal assisted twice.

Returning home for their first appearance since March 19th, the Fuel battled Fort Wayne all the way to extra time in a 5-4 OTSO affair. The crew from Indy overcame a 2-0 shortfall with a 3-goals' second blitz which featured a pair of Mike Neal goals in a lightning-like sequence of 2:45, crowned by Josh Shalla's PPG with :01 left in the period. Jake Marchment added a third period PPG with the Komets outscoring the Fuel in the OTSO, 1-0.

Sunday, for a second consecutive day, the Fuel, again, played to the OTSO with Cincinnati. This time, it was the Fuel's turn to prevail, 1-0 in the OTSO and 3-2 for the game. Neal and Kenny Ryan connected for the Fuel with Nick Bligh assisting on both goals. Alex Wideman delivered the GWG in the OTSO.

THE MICHAEL CYCLE: Tower of power center Mike Neal has emerged as a most dynamic discovery for the men of Fuel. For the month of March, the Whitby, Ontario product fashioned a highly-prolific portfolio, registering 16-points in 12-games on 7-goals, 9-assists and a sterling +7 rating. Included in Neal's numerology were 2-TBG, 1-FG, one 3-goal "hat trick" and one 2-goal enormous performance and 29-SOG. On two occasions, he was saluted as the game's #2 Star while being anointed the #1 Star for one other game. Seven times in March he authored multiple point games. In addition, for the past week, the 6-3 220lb impresario engineered 6-points in 3-games on 3-goals, 3-assists with a brilliant +5 rating and another 2-goal masterpiece. In his last 10-games; (10-10-20); last 13(11-11-22) Neal is the Fuel nomination for both Sher-Wood / ECHL Player of the Month and Player of the Week.

THE SHINE OF LEVINE: Fourth year pro goalkeeper Eric Levine is enjoying his best hours of the season at this late date. For the month of March, the product of Wheeling, IL was sprouting rubber limbs on demand with his puck prevention attention wizardry. In his 6-starts for the month, Levine was divine, recording a 6(2-2-2) mark with a glistening GAA of 2.61 and stellar .930 SPCT. In 3 of those 6-starts, he was selected once as the game's #1 Star, once as the #2 Star and once as well as the #3 Star. The past week, the former standout of Robert Morris U., posted a perfect personified 2(2-0-0) record with a GAA of 1.44 and SPCT of .959. In those 2-starts, Levine was named the game's #1 Star in his club's 3-2 OTSO Sunday triumph over Cincinnati and the #3 Star in leading his team to a 4-1 victory on Friday night in Toledo. Overall, Levine is on a personal 3-game win streak, permitting a paltry 4-GA for a GAA of a microscopic 1.33. Levine is the Fuel's nomination for both CCM / Goaltender of the Month and Goaltender of the Week.

NICK IN THE CLICK: First year right wing Nick Bligh has continued to be a somewhat unsung, unheralded talent on this Fuel squadron. Obtained earlier in the season in a deal with Adirondack, the former Dartmouth College standout has masterfully contributed to his team's extraordinary success. For the month of March, he registered 10-points in 12-games on 5-goals, 5-assists with 41-SOG, 2-FG and 1-GTG. Bligh is the Fuel's nomination for ECHL Rookie of the Month.

MATT MADE: Second year left wing Matt Rupert has definitely saved his best for last in this current campaign for his Fuel aggregation nation. The past week, the former OHL London Knights' standout equaled two team season standards with his offensive motion which has lots of nifty notion. First, he matched the season standard of a 5-games' goal-scoring streak with 5(5-2-7). He then promptly proceeded to duplicate the best point-streak of the year at 6 with 6(5-5-10) in that span. Rupert tied Alex Wideman for longest goal streak and Tyler Barnes for best point streak.

REVERED CANNONEERS: During this Fuel rise from ordinary status, it has been their new-found firepower which has ignited their flight. To amplify and magnify, during their present tense 5(4-0-1) log, they have sniped 19-strikes for a GFA of a gaudy 3.80. At 7(5-1-1) they have connected on 31-GF for a GFA of 4.43; last 9(6-2-1) with 38-GF for a GFA of 4.22; last 12(7-3-2) and 49-GF for a GFA of 4.09. Until Sunday's 3-2 OTSO success at the expense of Cincinnati, Indy had scored 4 or more goals in 5-straight games and 8 of their last 9-outings.

NEW TO THE FUEL: The newest members of the Indy Fuel are a pair of forwards who bring some impressive credentials to the Fuel's aggregation nation. The Fuel have signed to ATO agreements 6-2, 228lb left wing Austin Hervey and 6-3, 205lb center Fillip Rydstrom. Hervey comes to Indy following an outstanding collegiate career at NCAA Division III Adrian College which followed a junior 'A' hockey stint here in Indianapolis with the USHL Indiana Ice. As for Rydstrom, the Swedish import arrives from the USHL Omaha Lancers by way of the QMJHL Charlottetown Islanders. Indy has now employed 61-players through the course of this current campaign.

EXTRA MAN BAND BUOYED: The Fuel power play prowess has been both prominent and quite pronounced during their recent revival. The extra man band is operating at a kinetic clip as reflected in the latest numbers. The man advantage group is 2 for the last 4; 50%. Moreover, it is 4 for the last 11; 36.4% and 7 for the last 25 for a proficiency rating of a sound and solid 28%. Meanwhile in the penalty-killing category, the Fuel have been seeking more consistency and continuity in their latest action. The opposition is 0 for the last 3; 2 for the last 5 and 3 for the last 18; 83.3% efficiency rating.

FUEL FACTS: In 9-clashes with the Komets of Fort Wayne, the Fuel outscored the Ks in the first period, 12-11 and in the second stanza, 12-9. However, in that fateful final frame, it was all Fort Wayne, 23-4. Ten of the Fuel's 28-PPG this season have been scored against Fort Wayne; 10-35; 28.6%. Indy has scored 2-PPG in one game a total of 5-times this season with 4 of those games being against Fort Wayne. Josh Shalla has scored more than one-third of his 31-goals this season against the Komets, firing 11-goals in 9-games including 5 of his league-high 8-FG. The Fuel have raised their record against South Division opposition above the .500 plateau at 17(9-8-0). In extra time this season, the Fuel are 3(0-3) in OT and 6(2-4) in the OTSO. They went 3(0-3) against Fort Wayne; 1(0-1) in OT and 2(0-2) in the OTSO. Rugged, ruffian, rock-ribbed right wing Woody Hudson celebrated his first-ever pro goal Friday night at Toledo in his club's 4-1 subduing of the league-leaders. In that same game, defenseman and team captain Zach Miskovic carded a masterful +3 rating. Left wing Alex Wideman (53) is one point shy of equaling the Fuel's single season point scoring record of 54 established by Alex Lavoie last season. Jake Hildebrand 5(3-1-1) in his last 5-decisions and 7(4-2-1) in his last 7-starts, continues to pace the league in saves made with 1,410.

THE FUEL ARE ON TV: All season long in this 2016-17 season, all Indy Fuel Friday night and Saturday night home games are televised live in simulcast form. WHTR-TV (NBC) / COZI-TV will present all of the action with the Fuel's exclusive radio flagship home of CBS SPORTS 1430. Terry Ficorelli will have the play-by-play call with Bob Kravitz and Talor Whitaker alongside.

THE DAILY FUEL FILL-UP: All Fuel hockey fans can stay up to date everyday even when there is not a game .It's "The Fuel Fix From Fic," Monday through Friday during the Kent Sterling Show from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm on the exclusive radio flagship home of the Indy Fuel CBS SPORTS 1430.

TICKET INFORMATION: Indy Fuel game tickets for all home games are available at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations or on line at indyfuelhockey.com. Call us by phone as well at (317) 925-FUEL.


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