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ECHL Indy Fuel

Fuel Drop Wild 7-6 Tilt to Everblades

December 5, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Indy Fuel News Release


INDIANAPOLIS - In the first of three head-to-head meetings between the two teams this season, the Indy Fuel dropped a wild, back-and-forth game to the Florida Everblades on Saturday at Indiana Farmers Coliseum by a final score of 7-6. With the loss, the Fuel fell to 5-10-2-2 overall this season and with 14 points, remain tied for sixth place in the ECHL's North Division standings.

In a fire-wagon first period, the Everblades came out of the gate quickly, potting back-to-back goals from Gabriel Desjardins and Cameron Burt, less than three minutes into the game. The Fuel battled back with a Garett Bembridge power-play goal at 4:50 to make it 2-1, but Florida nudged the lead to 3-1 at 9:12 of the opening stanza when Alex Lavoie coaxed home his fifth goal of the season.

In the middle frame, both teams traded goals throughout as Florida's Brandt Harris made it 4-1 Everblades at 4:28 before Indy captain Mike Duco netted his fourth of the year, a power-play score, at 6:17 to draw the Fuel within a pair at 4-2. The Everblades responded with another Desjardins marker at 9:03 before Pete Massar scalded home his second tally of the season at 10:34 to make it 5-3. A late shorthanded goal for Florida's Chris Kushneriuk extended the Everblades' lead, however, to 6-3 heading into the final period of play.

The Fuel put forth a resolved effort in the third period, drawing within a goal at 6-5 thanks to back-to-back scores to begin the final frame, from Duco at 1:01 on the power-play and Anders Franzon at 5:19 on a rebound, shorthanded tapper, Franzon's first marker of the season. A Florida score at 6:54 from Jeff Costello briefly quelled the Fuel momentum, but a Dean Chelios deflection recaptured it at 15:45 though the Indy comeback came up one goal short at 7-6.

Duco's two goals and one assist and three-assist performances from Nick Bruneteau and Mathieu Brisebois paced all Fuel skaters while Cody Reichard made 25 saves in 40 minutes of work before Indianapolis native Jordan Tibbett claimed the loss in mop-up duty, stopping five pucks in the third period. On the other side, Daniel Altshuller made 26 saves in the Florida victory.

Next up for the Fuel, it's a Saturday showdown with the Fort Wayne Komets on "Big Ten Appreciation Night" at Indiana Farmers Coliseum with the opening faceoff set for 7:35 pm. The first 1,896 fans through the gates sporting Big Ten Conference apparel will receive a free Fuel mini-football. Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster.com and via the Indiana Farmers Coliseum box office during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Full television coverage of Friday's game begins at 7:30 pm on HTSN with Jim Mirabello on the call while full radio coverage begins with the "Jose Cuervo Pregame Show" at 7:20 pm on cbssports1430.com and the free "TuneIn Radio" app on smartphones with Fuel broadcaster Tony Brown providing the play-by-play.

In 2014-15, the Indy Fuel, the proud "AA" affiliate of the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks and AHL's Rockford IceHogs, drop the puck on their first season in the ECHL. Season ticket packages for the Fuel's inaugural campaign are available now starting at just under $12 per game! To reserve your seats, contact the Fuel today at (317) 925-FUEL or visit www.indyfuelhockey.com for more information. Be sure to follow the Fuel on Twitter @IndyFuel and don't forget to 'Like' the official "Indy Fuel" fan page on Facebook.

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