Fuel Snare 4-1 Victory in Rematch with Swamp Rabbits
March 25, 2017 - ECHL (ECHL)
Indy Fuel News Release
GREENVILLE, S.C. - After squandering a late lead the night before, on Saturday it was the Indy Fuel who displayed the late-game resolve. A three goal third period lifted the Fuel (19-40-3-3) to a 4-1 victory over the Greenville Swamp Rabbits (36-25-4-1) at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Salvaging a split from the two-game set with Greenville, Indy will close its weekend swing through the Carolinas with a Sunday visit to the South Carolina Stingrays.
Kenny Ryan broke a 1-1 tie with 12:32 left to play in regulation, and Matt Rupert tacked on a pair of empty net goals to give the Fuel their fourth win in their last eight games (4-3-0-1). A stellar 40-save outing from goaltender Eric Levine rounded out what was one of Indy's most complete performances in recent months.
The contest was up for grabs heading into the third period, after the Fuel and Swamp Rabbits traded power play tallies in the middle frame. It was Ryan who swung the momentum in favor of the visitors with a breakaway tally, his fourth goal in three games. The veteran forward picked off a pass from Greenville's Angelo Miceli inside his defensive blue line and raced 150 feet all alone, snapping a wrist shot above the glove of goaltender Brandon Halverson.
After several strong saves from Levine to maintain the 2-1 lead, Rupert became the second Indy skater to hit the 20-goal plateau this season with a pair of tallies into the empty net to seal the road victory. The second-year forward joined fellow sophomore Alex Wideman, who recorded his 20th goal of the season last night in Greenville's 5-4 triumph. Rupert has now compiled six goals over his last six games.
Forward Michael Neal finished with three assists on the night, setting up both of Rupert's insurance goals and Indy's first goal off the stick of Nick Bligh.
The Swamp Rabbits had some jump early, outshooting Indy 18-5 in the first period, but a flawless 20 minutes from Levine kept things scoreless heading into the second. However, it took just 51 seconds for Greenville to grab the lead in the middle frame with a power play goal. Ahti Oksanen took a drop pass from Miceli and beat Levine glove side for his 21st marker of the season.
Later in the second, the Fuel followed suit with their own goal on the man advantage to tie the game at one. Attacking the zone 3-on-2, Bligh took a feed from Neal and ripped a shot from the left face-off dot that beat Halverson over the glove at 15:24. Halverson finished the night with 28 saves on 30 shots.
Indy ended the night 1-for-3 on the power play, while killing off four of five Greenville opportunities.
Next Home Game: Saturday, April 1 vs. Fort Wayne - 7:35 p.m. (Made in America presented by IBEW Local #481): While hockey's roots may come from that country up north, the Fuel are saluting the Stars and Stripes on Made In America Night. Meet special guest Robbie Knievel, while we celebrate the Red, White and Blue!
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.
-- INDYFUELHOCKEY.COM ]
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