Fuel Fetch a Weekend Split with 4-3 Victory over Cyclones
November 10, 2018 - ECHL (ECHL)
Indy Fuel News Release
INDIANAPOLIS - The largest crowd of the season at Indiana Farmers Coliseum was treated to a thrilling win for the home team, as the Indy Fuel (6-5-0-0) defeated the Cincinnati Cyclones 4-3 on Saturday night. With 6,187 fans - and their dogs - in attendance for the Fuel's annual Pucks & Paws night, forward Kevin Dufour retrieved a goal and two assists to help Indy improve to 5-2 on home ice while salvaging a weekend split with the Cyclones.
Playing for the second time in as many nights, the Fuel and Cyclones matched each other shot-for-shot over the first two periods before Josh McArdle provided the eventual game-winner with his first professional goal. The rookie defenseman took a feed from Dufour and hammered a slap shot past goaltender Michael Houser (23 saves) to put Indy up 4-3 with 13:34 left in regulation time. After seeing the Cyclones rally three separate times from one-goal deficits, the Fuel hung tight down the stretch to snap Cincinnati's three-game winning streak.
McArdle wasn't the only Fuel player who recorded his first ECHL goal on Saturday, as forward Jordy Stallard opened the scoring halfway through the opening period with his first pro marker. In what was his Fuel debut, Stallard battled to the front of the Cincinnati net and redirected a Dufour shot to give Indy an early 1-0 lead on the power play.
The Cyclones found an equalizer just under two minutes later when Myles Powell scored his third goal of the weekend series. Taking a drop pass at the blue line from former Indy standout Alex Wideman, Powell drove to the net and beat Fuel goaltender Kevin Lankinen through a screen.
Ryan Rupert put Indy back on top at the 15:02 mark of the second period with a great individual effort on the forecheck. The forward stole the puck from a Cyclones defender behind the cage, stepped to the near goal post and flipped a backhand over Houser's glove for his third goal of the season.
The lead was again short lived, as Pascal Aquin capitalized on a power play to even the score at two at 17:25 of the second. Devante Stephens' initial shot hit a body in front and bounced right to Aquin, who snapped his sixth of the season past Lankinen.
The two teams traded goals one last time in the early stages of the third period, with Indy taking a 3-2 lead on a Kevin Dufour tally 3:25 into the frame. Mathew Thompson registered the first of his two assists in the final stanza when he slid a centering pass to Dufour to cap off a 3-on-2 rush. But once again Cincinnati had a quick answer, when Brady Vail threaded picked a corner in transition at 5:14.
Lankinen improved to 3-0 in net for the Fuel with a 27-save effort, his biggest stop of the night coming moments after McArdle's go-ahead goal. Myles Powell was awarded a penalty shot after being hauled down on a breakaway, but Lankinen shut the door one-on-one with a right pad save.
Both teams found the net once with the man advantage; the Fuel finished 1-for-2 while holding the Cyclones to one goal on four chances.
Indy now heads on their longest geographical road trip of the season, heading to West Valley City, Utah for a three-game set with the Utah Grizzlies. The Fuel and Grizzlies will play Wednesday, Friday and Saturday night at Maverik Center, all three contests slated for a 9:05 p.m. ET puck drop.
Single-game tickets are now on sale for the Fuel's 5th anniversary season at Indiana Farmers Coliseum! Lock up your seat for every second of the action at Indiana Farmers Coliseum with a Fuel Ticket Plan - grab yours by heading to IndyFuelHockey.com or by calling the Fuel front office at 317-925-FUEL. Don't forget to follow the Fuel on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (IndyFuel) for news, updates, contests and much more throughout the 2018-19 season.
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from November 10, 2018
- Komets Take Series - Rapid City Rush
- Oilers Come from Behind to Stun Steelheads in OT - Tulsa Oilers
- 'Blades Put on Clinic against IceMen in 6-2 Victory - Florida Everblades
- Americans Comeback Falls Short - Allen Americans
- Shaw, Solar Bears Trick Stingrays in 5-3 Win - Orlando Solar Bears
- Fuel Fetch a Weekend Split with 4-3 Victory over Cyclones - Indy Fuel
- Gladiators Overcome Slow Start to Defeat Admirals 5-3 - Norfolk Admirals
- Austen Time: Swamp Rabbits Top Nailers in OT - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Mavericks Complete Sweep of Week-Long Slate with Allen - Kansas City Mavericks
- The Villains Prevail on Super Hero Night in Norfolk as Atlanta Defeats the Admirals 5-3 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Second Period Surge Leads Beast Past K-Wings - Kalamazoo Wings
- Shaw's Hat Trick Powers Orlando over SC - South Carolina Stingrays
- Jacksonville's Fast Start Slowed by Florida's Three-Goal First - Jacksonville Icemen
- Nailers Come Back to Earn Point against Greenville - Wheeling Nailers
- In Front of 5,000+, Mariners Sweep Railers for Third Straight Win - Maine Mariners
- Adirondack Sneaks by Reading, 3-1 - Reading Royals
- Adirondack Sweeps Weekend Series with 3-1 Win over Reading - Adirondack Thunder
- Worcester Gets Frustrated in 3-1 Road Loss in Maine - Worcester Railers HC
- Growlers Win 6th Straight - Newfoundland Growlers
- Growlers Sweep Monarchs, 3-0 - Manchester Monarchs
- Brady Norrish Recalled by AHL Texas Stars - Idaho Steelheads
- ECHL Transactions - November 10 - ECHL
- MacMillan Comes Back to Wichita - Wichita Thunder
- ECHL Announces Fines, Suspensions - ECHL
- Game Day: Everblades vs. Jacksonville - November 10 - Florida Everblades
- Kile Gets Call to AHL Utica - Maine Mariners
- Royals Acquire G Lotz for Future Considerations - Reading Royals
- Lotz's Rights Traded to Reading - Jacksonville Icemen
- Bonar Recalled to Providence, Vladar Heads to Boston - Atlanta Gladiators
- Nailers vs. Swamp Rabbits Game Day Snap Shot, November 10 - Wheeling Nailers
- Game Day: Military Appreciation Brings Brampton to Town - Kalamazoo Wings
- Game Preview: Gladiators at Admirals, November 10, 2018 - Norfolk Admirals
- Game Day Report: Mavericks Seek Week Sweep of Allen - Kansas City Mavericks
- Reading Hosts Men's Cancer Awareness Night vs. Adirondack After Wild Friday Comeback - Reading Royals
- Everblades Rally Late to Upend Jacksonville - Florida Everblades
- Steelheads Push Late, Fall 4-3 to Tulsa - Idaho Steelheads
- Merasty's "Gordie Howe Hat-Trick" Forces Rubber Match - Rapid City Rush
- Grizzlies Win 6-3 to Complete Wichita Sweep - Utah Grizzlies
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.
