ECHL Indy Fuel

Fuel Fall 3-1 to Royals; Drop Sixth Straight Game

December 10, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Indy Fuel News Release


READING, PENN. - A resurgent effort was not enough to pull the Indy Fuel out of their current slump, as the Fuel (8-12-1-1) fell 3-1 to the Reading Royals (14-8-1-1) Saturday night at Santander Arena. The second loss in as many nights to the Royals was Indy's sixth-straight overall, extending a winless streak to seven games.

After suffering their worst loss of the season Friday night in an 8-2 thumping, the Fuel responded with a much stronger defensive performance Saturday. However, Reading again rallied from a first period deficit and held Indy off the scoreboard the rest of the way to complete the weekend sweep. Defenseman Michael Boivin tallied the game-winning goal midway through the period, and goaltender Mark Dekanich withstood a Fuel push in the third period to deliver the Royals' eighth consecutive victory.

Boivin broke a 1-1 stalemate when he beat Indy netminder Keegan Asmundson at 11:44 of the middle frame. Trailing behind on an odd-man rush, the blueliner took a feed from Justin Crandall and fired the puck five-hole to pick up his second goal of the season, giving Reading all the cushion it would need.

Indy pressed hard down the stretch for the equalizer, but Dekanich saved the best work of his 19-save performance for the third period. The best chance for the Fuel came in the final minute with Asmundson pulled for the empty attacker, when Marek Tvrdon slipped in unmarked off an offensive-zone draw. The Royals netminder forced Tvrdon's backhand chance wide, and moments later Steven Swavely scored on the empty net to ice the game for the home team.

For the second night in a row, Indy scored first only to see the early lead vanish. Rookie forward Raphael Corriveau drew first blood for the Fuel 6:26 into play, finishing what started as a 2-on-1 rush. After Tyler Currier fanned on the initial shot, and Patrick D'Amico's second chance effort was blocked in front, Corriveau swooped in late to tuck in his first goal of the season.

But just over four minutes later Reading responded with Chris McCarthy's 11th of the season and third of the weekend doubleheader, which kicked off Reading's Teddy Bear Toss. Picking up the puck off of a Fuel turnover, Derik Johnson threw a shot at the net, which Crandall dished to McCarthy for the back-side finish at 10:36.

Asmundson played solid despite the loss, turning aside 23 of 25 shots in his season debut for Indy. The goaltender was acquired prior to the Fuel's road trip, after appearing in 13 games for the club at the end of the 2015-16 season.

Neither team had any success with the man advantage, as both the Fuel and Royals finished the night 0-for-2 on the power play.

Indy concludes its five-game road swing with trips to U.S. Bank Arena on Thursday and Friday to take on the Cincinnati Cyclones, before returning to Indiana Farmers Coliseum Saturday for a matchup against the Quad City Mallards.

Next Home Game: Saturday, December 17 vs. Quad City Mallards - 7:35 p.m. (Teddy Bear Toss) The fur is ready to fly again during one of the most exciting promotions of the season! Bring new and gently used stuffed animals to the game, then throw your plush projectiles onto the ice after the Fuel score their first goal! Each fuzzy friend collected will be donated to Toys For Tots in time to make the holidays brighter for Children around Central Indiana.

Single-game tickets are now available for the third season of Fuel hockey in Indianapolis at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum box office or at all Ticketmaster locations. Ticket Plans of all sizes are also available, from Full-Season Plans to six and three-game packages, in addition to Group Ticket options. Learn more by visiting IndyFuelHockey.com or calling 317-925-FUEL. Stay up to date throughout the offseason by following the Fuel on Twitter and Instagram (@IndyFuel) and don't forget to 'Like' the Fuel on Facebook.

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