Holl's Heroics Keep Indy's Playoff Hopes Alive
April 8, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Indy Fuel News Release
Indy Fuel vs. Kalamazoo Wings
(Indy Fuel, Credit: Whiteshark Photography)
INDIANAPOLIS - In the final regular-season home game of the Indy Fuel's inaugural ECHL campaign, the Fuel clipped the Kalamazoo Wings on Wednesday at Indiana Farmers Coliseum in overtime by a final score of 4-3. With the win, the Fuel improved to 30-30-4-6 overall this season and with 70 points, pulled into a fifth-place tie with the Wheeling Nailers in the ECHL's North Division standings, just two points shy of playoff position with two games remaining in the Fuel's regular-season schedule.
After a physical, tight-checking first period slid by mostly scoreless, the Fuel broke the ice at 12:49 of the opening stanza when Justin Holl and Mike Duco combined to set up Kirill Gotovets for a left-circle wrister, the former Cornell Big Red defenseman's seventh of the season.
In the middle stanza, Wings forward Dane Fox tied the game at one just 1:09 in, before the Fuel reclaimed the lead at 4:50 on a one-time blast from Kyle Stroh thanks to a sharp setup from Garett Bembridge and Evan Vossen. Kalamazoo scratched across their second tying goal of the game at 7:47 of the middle frame when Patrick Kennedy touched a centering pass behind Indy goaltender Mac Carruth for the former Evansville IceMen's 12th of the season. Late in the second, however, Fuel defenseman Nick Jones provided the Fuel another one-goal edge at 17:29 when the former Mercyhurst Laker nudged a rebound tally past Wings net-minder Joel Martin on feeds from Anders Franzon and Kyle Stroh to make it 3-2.
In the third, a late tying goal from Kalamazoo's Justin Kovacs forced overtime with less than two minutes remaining in regulation, but with just 33 seconds remaining in the extra session, Holl followed up a Nicklas Lindberg perimeter shot and banked the game-winning score off Martin's back from below the K-Wings' goal line to earn a 4-3 victory and keep Indy's playoff hopes alive. Carruth earned the win in net for the Fuel thanks to a 24-save performance while Martin took the loss despite 27 stops in net for Kalamazoo.
Next up for the Fuel, it's a Friday showdown vs. the Reading Royals at Santander Arena in Reading, Pennsylvania with the opening faceoff set for 7:30 pm. Full radio coverage of Friday's game begins with the "Jose Cuervo Pregame Show" at 7:15 pm over the air 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.
Images from this story
 Indy Fuel Introductions (Whiteshark Photography) |
 Indy Fuel Celebrate a Goal (Whiteshark Photography) |
 Indy Fuel vs. Kalamazoo Wings (Whiteshark Photography) |
ECHL Stories from April 8, 2015
- K-Wings move closer to playoffs despite overtime loss to Fuel - Kalamazoo Wings
- Gladiators Victorious in OT Stunner, 3-2 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Franky Fantastic in 2-1 Win at Reading - Wheeling Nailers
- IceMen Win Season Series with Gladiators in Overtime Loss - Evansville IceMen
- Cyclones Earn Big Point, But Fall to Komets 3-2 in Shootout - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Holl's Heroics Keep Indy's Playoff Hopes Alive - Indy Fuel
- ECHL Transactions - April 8 - ECHL
- Game Preview - Ontario Reign at Alaska Aces - Ontario Reign
- Defenseman Czuczman Reassigned to Everblades - Florida Everblades
- Royals to Host Fan Rally and Carnival to Pump Playoff Pep and Help a Great Cause - Reading Royals
- Justin Baker Named to ECHL All-Rookie Team - Allen Americans
- Nailers at Royals Game Day Snap Shot - Wheeling Nailers
- Steven Shamanski Named to ECHL All-Rookie Team - Elmira Jackals
- Walleye's Barnes Named to ECHL All-Rookie Team - Toledo Walleye
- Komet Goalie Roman Will Named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team - Fort Wayne Komets
- Derek Army Named to ECHL All-Rookie Team - Wheeling Nailers
- Bast Selected to ECHL All-Rookie Team - Idaho Steelheads
- ECHL Announces 2014-15 All-Rookie Team - ECHL
- Cornelison's Appearance at Mallards' Game Postponed - Quad City Mallards
- Cyclones Game Preview - Cincinnati at Fort Wayne - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Game Day Capsule: Tulsa at Wichita - Wichita Thunder
- Fandemonium, Student Rush Highlights Final Home Weekend - Wichita Thunder
- Countdown to Face-Off: Kalamazoo Wings at Indy Fuel - Kalamazoo Wings
- Gladiators Game Preview: IceMen at Gladiators - Atlanta Gladiators
- Stingrays Individual Playoff Tickets Go on Sale Monday, April 13 - South Carolina Stingrays
- ECHL Today - April 8 - ECHL
- Brodie Scores First Pro Goal, Stands as Winner - Stockton Thunder
- Sylvestre Scores 23rd of the Season in Loss to Thunder - Bakersfield Condors
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