ECHL Indy Fuel

Fuel Show Grit in 5-4 Shootout Loss to Florida

December 13, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Indy Fuel News Release


ESTERO, FL - In the third of three head-to-head meetings between the two teams this season, the Indy Fuel climbed out of a 3-0 hole but ultimately fell in a shootout to the Florida Everblades on Saturday at Germain Arena in Estero, Florida by a final score of 5-4. With the shootout loss, the Fuel improved to 5-12-2-3 overall this season and with 15 points, remain alone in seventh place in the ECHL's North Division standings.

The Everblades stormed out of the gate on Saturday and tallied three first period goals, from Adam Brace at 3:45, Mike Aviani at 4:09 and Brace again at 11:47 on the power-play, to take a 3-0 lead into the first intermission.

In the middle frame, the Fuel scrambled all the way out of a three-goal deficit and collected back-to-back-to-back tallies from Pete Massar less than one minute into the frame, Justin Holl on the power-play at 10:46 and Massar's second of the game, a sizzling one-time finish at 14:28, to level the slate at 3-3 heading into the third.

In the final stanza the 'Blades and Fuel scrapped to a mostly scoreless period before former Harvard Crimson captain Dan Ford rifled home his first career professional goal at 16:32 of the frame to deliver the Fuel their first lead of the weekend at 4-3. A late Brace power-play score at 19:03, the Everblades' leading point man's third of the night, forced overtime and eventually a shootout where Florida skated away 5-4 winners after potting two tallies to the Fuel's none.

Eric Levine surrendered three first period goals on 20 shots faced in his second straight start in net for the Fuel before Cody Reichard entered in relief at the start of the second period and turned aside 26 of the 27 Florida shots he faced the rest of the way. Meanwhile, Everblades goaltender Allen York was solid in victory, stopping 28 of the 32 pucks he faced including all four Fuel attempts in the shootout.

Next up for the Fuel, it's a Monday showdown at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida vs. the Orlando Solar Bears with the opening faceoff set for 7:00 pm. Full radio coverage begins with the "Jose Cuervo Pregame Show" at 6:45 pm on CBS Sports 1430 WXNT-AM, online at www.cbssports1430.com and on smartphones everywhere via the free "TuneIn" Radio app 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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ECHL Stories from December 13, 2014


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