ECHL Indy Fuel

Back-And-Forth Contest Goes to the Mavericks

Published on February 12, 2016 under ECHL (ECHL)
Indy Fuel News Release


INDEPENDENCE, MO. - A power play goal with under five minutes remaining in regulation was enough to give the ECHL-leading Missouri Mavericks (36-6-2-1) a 4-3 victory over the Indy Fuel (24-23-2-0) Friday night at Silverstein Eye Centers Arena, in the first leg of a three-game weekend series between the two clubs. The two clubs face off again Saturday and Sunday from Independence; the tripleheader marking the first half of a six-game, two-week road trip for Indy.

Mavericks defenseman Matt Finn weaved a shot through heavy traffic and behind goaltender Shane Owen with 4:57 left to play in the third period to swing a wildly entertaining affair in the favor of the home team. The Fuel proved they were more than capable of skating with the ECHL's top team, erasing three separate deficits through the first two periods and owning a 33-22 edge in shots on goal. The win brought Missouri's home record to a staggering 19-2-0-0, and gave the club a 3-0 lead in the season series over Indy.

Despite both sides being known for their strong defenses, the Fuel and Mavericks came out firing in a first period that saw each team net a pair. Both squads scored on their first shots of the night, as Missouri's Bryce Aneloski and Indy's Michael Colantone traded goals 1:07 apart in the early going to bring the game to a 1-1 tie. Aneloski chipped home the first of Ross Johnston's three assists Friday at 2:23, and Colantone had the quick answer on a great solo rush at 3:30.

Forward Reed Seckel reclaimed the lead for the Mavericks at 12:30 when he knocked in a loose rebound after his own shot handcuffed Owen. Traded from Indy to Missouri in December, Seckel had a monster night in his first game against his former club, tallying two goals, and assist and a +3 rating.

Colantone once again accounted for the equalizer, this time cashing in on a power play to make it a 2-2 game late in the opening frame. Daniel Ciampini threw the puck to Adam Lapsansky at the goal mouth, whose initial offering was denied by netminder Josh Robinson. The rebound went right to Colantone, who had a two-foot tap-in for his seventh goal of the season and second of the period at 16:43.

Seckel gave Missouri a 3-2 edge just 2:32 into the second period when he put back a fortuitous bounce. On an odd-man break, Johnston's drive hit a Fuel defenseman's stick and found Seckel's tape on the other side, who beat a diving Owen for his fourth goal of the campaign.

Again, Indy was able to respond in a hurry, tying the game a third time when Lapsansky ripped a slap shot through Robinson 1:12 after Seckel's go-ahead marker. Anders Franzon and Ciampini picked up the helpers on Lapsansky's sixth of the season, with both Ciampini (2a) and Lapsansky (1g, 1a) wrapping up multi-point nights.

The Fuel could not solve Robinson in the third, and the goaltender extended his ECHL-record winning streak to 20 games with a 30-save performance. Owen stopped 18 of 22 shots in the other end.

Each team finished 1-for-4 on the power play, with Missouri's game-winning tally on the extra man snapping a string of 28 straight kills for Indy. Prior to Friday, the Fuel hadn't allowed a power play goal since Jan. 17 against the Wheeling Nailers.

Next Home Game: Tuesday, Feb. 23 vs. Missouri Mavericks - 7:05 p.m. Dogs are every hockey player's best friend! Receive a $10 voucher towards ANY concession purchase with paid admission! FACE Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic will be on hand with a few furry friends and details on how you can make a positive impact in an animal's life.

Single-game tickets are now on sale at Ticketmaster or at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum box office, while a variety of different ticket plans and group specials are available by calling (317) 925-FUEL or visiting IndyFuelHockey.com . Don't miss out on anything from the Fuel in 2015-16, follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@IndyFuel ) and don't forget to 'Like' the Fuel on Facebook.

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ECHL Stories from February 12, 2016


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