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ECHL Indy Fuel

Fuel Bounced 5-2 in Fort Wayne

April 2, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Indy Fuel News Release


FORT WAYNE, IND. - The Indy Fuel (31-35-3-0) couldn't build on an early lead in a 5-2 defeat at the hands of the Fort Wayne Komets (39-21-6-2) Saturday night at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. With the victory, the Komets claimed the 2015-16 Midwest Division title, locking in a top-three seed in the first round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

For the Fuel, who were officially eliminated from playoff contention Friday night, it was another rough outing during their current three-game road trip. Indy visits the Quad City Mallards Sunday afternoon before finishing their schedule with a home-and-home series with Fort Wayne next weekend.

While the Fuel claimed Saturday's first goal, it was the Komets who answered with the next five, picking up their sixth win in nine tries against the Hoosier State rival. Fort Wayne scored twice in the second and third period to keep Indy on the defensive after an evenly matched first period ended in a 1-1 stalemate.

Newly acquired forward Colin Murray opened the scoring in favor of the visiting Fuel 11:32 into the contest, playing in his first game in an Indy uniform. Brandon Wong found Dylan Clarke behind the Fort Wayne net, who made a one-handed centering pass to the slot. Murray, who was signed earlier Saturday afternoon, picked up the feed and threw it over the shoulder of goaltender Spencer Martin for his ninth goal of the season.

A turnover at the Fuel blue line led to the Komets' equalizer at 15:35. Garrett Meurs collected a bouncing puck and raced uncontested from 150 feet, beating rookie netminder Terry Shafer between the legs.

Fort Wayne took over the game in the second period, outshooting Indy 18-10 and building a 3-1 lead with a pair of late tallies. Kyle Thomas capitalized on another Fuel giveaway at the blue line, beating Shafer over the right shoulder in transition at 13:15. The Komets doubled their lead just over four minutes later, when Leo Thomas chipped in a centering feed from Taylor Crunk.

Shawn Szydlowski upped the Fort Wayne lead to 4-1 with a power play goal 5:43 into the third period. With sustained pressure in the Fuel zone, Paul Crowder found Szydlowski on the left circle, who deposited his team-leading 23rd goal and 72nd point of the season.

Crowder completed a two-point performance with a goal of his own at 13:11, beating Shafer short side from the right wing to make it 5-1.

On their first power play of the evening, Indy cut the lead to 5-2 with 2:26 left in regulation when Nick Petrecki banked in a pass off a body in front of Martin. The defenseman's fourth of the season came courtesy of Anders Franzon and Dylan Clarke. Clarke finished the game with a pair of assists.

Martin stopped 29 of 31 shots to pick up his ninth win of the season for the Komets, while Shafer made 29 saves in his first professional start.

Next Home Game: Friday, April 8 vs. Fort Wayne Komets - 7:35 p.m. The Fuel extend a stick tap to the greatest fans in the ECHL for the final regular season home game of 2015-16! The Fuel will take on the Komets on fan-painted ice at Indiana Farmers Coliseum, and will be holding special giveaways, contests and games all night long. The first 1,000 ticket holders in attendance will receive a Scott Hillman bobblehead.

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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