Big Second Period Lifts Fuel to Vital Win in Quad City
March 20, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Indy Fuel News Release
MOLINE, ILL. - After struggling to score over a pair of home losses to begin the weekend, the Indy Fuel (29-32-3-0) were due for an offensive surge. They got just that on Sunday afternoon, netting three goals in the second period to grab a critical 3-1 victory over the Quad City Mallards (31-26-4-2) at iWireless Arena. The win snapped a four-game winning streak for Quad City and pulled Indy to 61 points - seven back of the eighth-place Mallards with seven games left to play.
Down 1-0 at the start of the middle frame, the visiting Fuel used second-period markers from Dylan Clarke, Ben Marshall and Matt White to take over the game. Goaltender Keegan Asmundson stopped 27 of 28 shots, including 16 of 16 in the third period to lead Indy to the club's fifth straight win against the Mallards. The Fuel improved to 7-1-1-0 against the Midwest Division rival with one game left to play in the season series - on Sunday, April 3 back at iWireless Center.
Hungry for offense after being held to a single goal Saturday night to the Brampton Beast, Clarke started Indy's scoring surge at 3:56 of the second when he capitalized on a snafu from Mallards goaltender P.J. Musico. Looking to make a breakout pass behind his own net, the Quad City netminder found Clarke instead, who had a gaping net to shoot at to tie the game at one.
Marshall gave the Fuel the lead for good when he finished off an impressive power play effort at 11:20 of the period. After an extended period of puck possession, the rookie defenseman pulled the puck off of the right wall and blasted a point shot through Musico. Daniel Ciampini and Cody Sharib notched assists on Marshall's 10th goal of the season, which extended a point streak to three games (2g, 1a).
Indy grabbed an insurance goal in the final minute of the middle frame when White converted a feed from Anders Franzon. The defender walked in from the right point and slid a centering pass, which White was able to power home despite being held back by a Mallards defender. The forward's fifth goal of the season made it 3-1 at 19:13, with Sharib picking up his second helper of the afternoon.
With fatigue setting in, and both teams skating in their third games of the weekend, Asmundson had to save his best work for the third period. The Fuel goaltender pulled through with a series of late saves to keep the Mallards from staging a late comeback, earning his fourth win of the campaign. Musico took the loss, stopping 26 of 29 Indy shots.
The only blemish on Asmundson's record came in the opening frame, when Jordan Knackstedt gave the home team a 1-0 lead on a broken play. Olivier Archambault's initial shot was blocked in front by defenseman Zach Miskovic, but the puck found its way to Knackstedt's stick, who grabbed his 13th goal of the season 3:34 into the game.
Indy finished the game 1-for-2 on the power play, while killing off all three Quad City opportunities.
The Fuel return to Indiana Farmers Coliseum next weekend for a Thursday-Friday doubleheader with Cincinnati, beginning a string of three straight games against the Cyclones.
Next Home Game: Thursday, March 24 vs. Cincinnati Cyclones - 7:05 p.m. Start the weekend early with the Fuel and receive a $10 concessions voucher towards ANY concessions purchase with paid admission! Get your fill and cheer the Fuel to victory!
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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