Fuel Drop Day Game in Toledo
December 16, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Indy Fuel News Release
TOLEDO, OHIO - The Toledo Walleye (13-7-1-3) strung together four unanswered goals to defeat the Indy Fuel (10-13-2-0) 5-1 Wednesday afternoon in a school-day game at Huntington Center. The Walleye picked up two goals in the second period and two more in third to break open a 1-1 tie, grabbing a 3-1 lead in the seven-game season series with the Fuel.
Walleye forward Zach Nastasiuk led the way for the home team with a three-point performance (2g, 1a), which started with the go-ahead goal at the 14:31 mark of the second period. After defenseman Ralfs Freiberg's point shot hit traffic in the slot, Nastasiuk corralled the loose puck and tucked it behind Indy goaltender Mac Carruth to give Toledo a 2-1 lead.
The Walleye lead doubled just 35 seconds later as Kyle Bushee capitalized on a failed Indy clearing attempt. Joel Chouinard picked off a breakout pass at the blue line and quickly turned the puck to Bushee waiting at the right face-off dot, who picked up his first goal of the season.
Indy carried the play in the third period, outshooting the Walleye by a 11-5 margin, but saw their 3-1 deficit grow to 5-1. Nastasiuk picked up an assist on a great centering pass to set up Alden Hirschfeld's 11th goal of the season at 2:04 of the period, before capping the scoring with an empty net goal in the final minute of regulation. The three-point outing came in the rookie's first game with the Walleye since Nov. 7. The second-round pick of the Detroit Red Wings was reassigned from the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins on Monday.
Another player who looked good in his return to the lineup was Fuel forward Peter Schneider, who grabbed a first-period goal to tie the game at one. Seconds after an Indy power play expired, defenseman Ben Marshall executed a perfect shot-pass from the right point, finding Schneider on the back post. The rookie forward finished the feed into the gaping net for his fifth goal of the season, in his first action since missing the previous eight games with an upper-body injury.
Schneider's marker evened the contest after Toledo's Scott Czarnowczan opened the scoring 9:21 into the contest. With sustained pressure in the Fuel end, Austin Wuthrich slid a pass across the slot to the creeping defenseman, who wired a snap shot far side on Carruth for his first goal of the year.
Carruth turned aside 21 of 25 shots faced in the loss, falling to 5-4-2-0 on the season. In the other end, Walleye netminder Jeff Lerg made 29 saves for his eighth win of the season.
Both teams came up empty with the man advantage in Wednesday's matinee. Indy posted a 0-for-4 mark and Toledo went 0-for-1.
Falling in the first leg of a three-game road trip, Indy has Thursday off before beginning a three-in-three weekend with a doubleheader against the Evansville IceMen at Ford Center. Following a pair of 8:15 p.m. contests with the in-state rivals, the Fuel return to Indiana Farmers Coliseum on Sunday afternoon to take on the Walleye, in the last game before the ECHL's holiday break.
Next Home Game: Sunday, December 20 vs. Toledo Walleye - 3:05 p.m. Join the Fuel for a fun day the whole family can enjoy, complete with a post-game skate on the historic Indiana Farmers Coliseum ice! Bring your own skates, or take advantage of free skate rental on a first-come, first-served basis. Get photos and autographs from your favorite players as you take the ice where the Fuel play!
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.
ECHL Stories from December 16, 2015
- Solar Bears Clipped by Everblades, 3-2 - Orlando Solar Bears
- Atlanta Ties Game Late, Wins OT Thriller 6-5 in Evansville - Atlanta Gladiators
- Gladiators Catch IceMen Late, Win in Overtime - Evansville IceMen
- Third Period Costly as Royals Double up Admirals - Norfolk Admirals
- Jackals Take over Top Spot in East Division with Sixth Straight Win - Elmira Jackals
- ECHL Transactions - December 16 - ECHL
- Hart Summoned to AHL Syracuse - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Game Day Preview: Allen at Colorado - Allen Americans
- IceMen Ink Former NHL Forward Duco, Waive Goalie Asmundson - Evansville IceMen
- Fuel Drop Day Game in Toledo - Indy Fuel
- Monarchs Sign Anthony Pisano - Manchester Monarchs
- Walleye Take the Fuel to School 5-1 - Toledo Walleye
- Monarchs Loan Zac Larraza to Milwaukee Admirals - Manchester Monarchs
- Let the Battles Begin - Toledo Walleye
- Jackals Head North for Mid-Week Matchup with Adirondack - Elmira Jackals
- First Fan Forum a Success - Adirondack Thunder
- Gameday: Adirondack vs. Elmira - Adirondack Thunder
- Philadelphia Flyers Announce Official Alumni Game at Santander Arena - Reading Royals
- Admirals Defenseman Joe Marciano Retires - Norfolk Admirals
- K-Wing Alumnus Makes NHL Debut with Tampa Bay - Kalamazoo Wings
- ECHL Today - December 16 - ECHL
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
