Fuel Outlast Nailers in Season Finale
April 6, 2019 - ECHL (ECHL)
Indy Fuel News Release
WHEELING, W.V. - The Indy Fuel (35-32-2-3) wrapped up its 2018-19 season schedule Saturday night with a victory as they edged the Wheeling Nailers 5-4 in a shootout at WesBanco Arena. Despite coming up short of a playoff berth in the Central Division, the Fuel finished their fifth season in the ECHL with 75 points, the second-highest point total in franchise history.
Logan Nelson capped off a two-point night (1g, 1a) with the lone goal in the shootout, giving Indy five of six possible points over the final week of the regular season. Josh Shalla and Olivier Labelle also tacked on a goal and an assist for the visiting Fuel, while defenseman Travis Brown tacked on a pair of assists. On the back end, rookie goaltender Chase Marchand turned aside 39 shots for Indy to record his first professional victory.
In a fast-paced, offensive-minded game that featured 89 total shots on goal, the Fuel jumped out to a 2-1 lead in the first period. Josh Shalla capitalized on a breakaway 12:48 into the game, giving Indy a 1-0 lead while becoming the first player in Fuel franchise history to hit the 30-goal mark in a season.
Nailers defenseman Johnny Austin evened the score at one at 16:03 with the first of his two goals on the night, but Indy answered back just 53 seconds later to reclaim the lead with a goal from Mathew Thompson. The league's Rookie of the Month for March took an outlet pass from Labelle in the neutral zone before beating Wheeling netminder Matt O'Connor (41 saves) over the glove for his 21st goal and 50th point of the season.
Both clubs scored twice in the second period, with Labelle striking first to stretch the Fuel lead to 3-1 at 9:53 of the frame. Attacking on transition, the veteran forward chipped a rebound left from Brown over O'Connor for his 15th goal of the season. The two-goal lead did not last long, as the Nailers used goals from Austin and Alec Butcher just 28 seconds apart to tie the game at three. Indy jumped back on top before the end of the period, as Nelson fired his 16th goal of the season with just 5.6 seconds left in the second.
The Fuel's 4-3 lead lasted late into the third period, before the Nailers pulled back to even ground with a power play goal from Winston Day Chief with 3:35 left in regulation time.
Indy held a 4-2 shot advantage in overtime, outshooting Wheeling by a 46-43 total margin. The Fuel finished 0-for-5 on the power play, while the Nailers went 1-for-4 on the third-period equalizer.
Full Season Ticket Plans for the 2019-20 Indy Fuel season are now on sale, visit IndyFuelHockey.com or contact the front office at 317-925-FUEL to learn more. Don't forget to follow the Fuel on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for news, updates, contests and much more throughout the offseason.
ECHL Stories from April 6, 2019
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- Rays Stun Atlanta with Last Minute Goal - South Carolina Stingrays
- Recap: Cyclones Fall in Season Finale in Ft. Wayne - Cincinnati Cyclones
- K-Wings Drop Finale 6-1 - Kalamazoo Wings
- Admirals Win Season Finale Thanks to Three Point Night from Rodriguez - Norfolk Admirals
- Oilers Sweep Kalamazoo to Inch Closer to Division Title - Tulsa Oilers
- Count 'Em up - Big Night for Walleye Records - Toledo Walleye
- Royals End Regular Season on Six-Game Win Streak, 5-3, vs. Adirondack - Reading Royals
- Fuel Outlast Nailers in Season Finale - Indy Fuel
- South Carolina Survives with Home Victory Setting up Winner-Take-All Game Tomorrow - Atlanta Gladiators
- Nailers Collect One Point in Home Finale - Wheeling Nailers
- Swamp Rabbits Fall in Finale - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Railers Send Big Crowd Home Happy with 4-3 Win over Growlers - Worcester Railers HC
- Growlers Stumble in the Railyard, 4-3 - Newfoundland Growlers
- Thunder Can't Hold Lead in 5-3 Loss to Reading - Adirondack Thunder
- Monarchs Finish Regular Season with 5-2 Win over Mariners - Manchester Monarchs
- Mariners Fall in Manchester, Dashing Playoff Hopes - Maine Mariners
- Walleye's Berschbach Sets Franchise Record - Toledo Walleye
- ECHL Announces Fines, Suspensions - ECHL
- Josh Dickinson Reassigned to Utah - Utah Grizzlies
- ECHL Transactions - April 6 - ECHL
- Preview: 'Blades Close Regular Season with Home Battle against IceMen - Florida Everblades
- Cyclones Game Preview: vs. Ft. Wayne - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Nailers vs. Fuel Game Day Snap Shot, April 6 - Wheeling Nailers
- Swavely Returned on Loan Prior to Reading' Saturday Home Finale - Reading Royals
- Game Day: Regular Season Wraps Up, Kulbakov Recalled to Utica - Kalamazoo Wings
- Royals Host Adirondack in Finale Saturday: Need Win + Help to Stay Alive in Playoff Hunt - Reading Royals
- Americans Shutout by Wichita 4-0 - Allen Americans
- Mavericks Win Penalty-Filled Affair - Rapid City Rush
- Steelheads Close Home Regular Season with 3-1 Win over Grizzlies - Idaho Steelheads
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