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ECHL Indy Fuel

INDY FUEL PIT STOP Weekly: WEEK 20

February 27, 2017 - ECHL (ECHL)
Indy Fuel News Release


(BY TERRY FICORELLI)

THE FUEL LOOKING FORWARD TO A NEW FRESH START AS THEY COMMENCE NEW MONTH OF MARCH

TWO GAMES IN TWO NIGHTS COMING UP THIS WEEKEND; INDY BACK ON HOME ICE THIS FRIDAY NIGHT

LONE HOME GAME FRIDAY NIGHT AGAINST WHEELING ON "BRAVE THE SHAVE NIGHT" FOR ST. BALDRICK'S

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS: 3(0-3-0) 4-16

FRI. FEB. 24 FORT WAYNE 5 AT FUEL 1

SAT. FEB. 25 FUEL 2 AT CINCINNATI 3

SUN. FEB. 26 FUEL 1 AT TOLEDO 8

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: (2)

FRI. MAR. 3 WHEELING AT FUEL 7:35 PM

SAT. MAR. 4 FUEL AT QUAD CITY 8:00 PM

NEXT HOME GAME: FRI. MAR. 3 VS. WHEELING 7:35 PM- "BRAVE THE SHAVE NIGHT" FOR ST. BALDRICK'S

*** ALL INDY FUEL GAMES HOME AND AWAY ARE BROADCAST LIVE ON INDIANAPOLIS' CBS SPORTS 1430 ***

THE FUEL REVIEW: Completing an ambitious weekend's agenda comprised of 3-games in 3-days, the Indy Fuel have concluded their 11-games' docket for the month of February. The Fuel are now casting their collective eyes on the new month of March and its 12-games' slate consisting of 6-games at home and 6-games on the road. Embarking on the final 17-games of the 2016-17 ECHL campaign, the Fuel will play 10 of those remaining 17-games at home while seeing action in 7-more outings abroad. Through 55-games, the Fuel have compiled a composite record of 55(15-36-4) totaling 34-points.

They remain a scant pair of points behind 6th place Wichita 53(16-33-4) 36-points in the Western Conference Central Division. Indy completed its 11-games' February schedule, posting a mark of 11(1-9-1); at home: 3(0-3-0) and on the road; 8(1-6-1). Overall, the Fuel are 13(1-11-1) over their last 13-decisions. Through the initial 19-games of the second half of their 72-games' schedule, the Fuel have assembled a mark of 19(4-14-1) while their record for the first half of the current campaign was 36(11-22-3).

BRAVE THE SHAVE: The men of the Fuel face a somewhat abbreviated game agenda this week of two games in two nights with the first one at home and the second in Central Division enemy territory. Indy is back on home ice this Friday night when they engage in on-ice combat against the 2016 Kelly Cup Finalists, Wheeling Nailers. It will be the second and last clash between the two inter-conference, inter-divisional foes with both bouts being staged and waged at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum. The Fuel lead the season series, 1(1-0-0) by virtue of their convincing 6-1 conquest of the Nailers back on November 18th. To this day, that triumph still represents Indy's largest margin of victory for 2016-17.

Friday night has been designated as "BRAVE THE SHAVE NIGHT." On this special night, the Fuel organization steps up to join the crusade against childhood cancer through a special shave your head post-game on the ice to benefit the St. Baldrick's Foundation. In addition, the Fuel will be sporting specialty jerseys which will be auctioned off after the game, with a portion of the net proceeds benefitting St. Baldrick's. The Fuel will cap their work week Saturday night when they journey to the Quad Cities for a Central Division collision against the Mallards.

THE FINAL FOR FEBRUARY: Playing 3-games in 3-days the past weekend to cap their foreign ice influenced February 11-games' slate, the Fuel trembled in the trio despite some strong, spirited all-out efforts. In their lone home appearance on Friday night, the Fuel were outdistanced by their arch-adversaries from Fort Wayne, 5-1. Josh Shalla (FG) lifted his club into an early first period advantage of 1-0 before the Komets bounced back with 5-consecutive goals to lay claim to the contest as the Fuel remain winless in all 6 of their clashes against the K's.

On Saturday night, launching a brief 2-games in 2-days Ohio junket, the Fuel found the game wasn't quite long enough for their liking as they were shaded at Cincinnati by the Cyclones, 3-2. Tyler Barnes and Travis Armstrong were the Fuel "goal-getters" with Eric Levine bedazzling in goal in a stingy, stellar performance. All-Star Alex Wideman attained assists on both of his team's goals.

Sunday at first place, Central Division front-running Toledo, the Fuel were sent humbling home in an 8-1 setback. In a rather astounding and confounding opening stanza, the Fuel outshot the Toledoans, 11-7, only to fall behind irretrievably, 4-0. Mike Neal did deliver Indy's lone goal in the middle frame as the Walleye made it 2-wins in 2-outings against the men of Fuel hockey.

KEYSTONE BAR & GRILL SAMPLING: Visit the Keystone Bar & Grill booth Friday in the Indiana Farmers Coliseum lobby and sample some of their delicious Buffalo Bleu Mac & Cheese! While you are there, grab a coupon to save $1.00 on any variety of Keystone Bar & Grill's signature mac and cheese from participating Kroger locations.

DICK'S SPORTING GOODS DEAL: Our friends at DICK'S Sporting Goods have a variety of offers they are extending to Fuel fans. Click here to view these special offers, which you can print and redeem at participating DICK'S Sporting Goods locations throughout the year.

2017-18 SEASON TICKETS: Fuel Full Season Ticket Plans for the 2017-18 Indy Fuel ECHL hockey season are now on sale! Purchase or renew your plan by February 28th and you will receive your seat for the 2018 ECHL All-Star Classic absolutely FREE! Click here for more information and join the team today.

UP TEMPO TONIC: For the Fuel at this juncture of the 2016-17 campaign, the most productive of the Fuel-men marksmen in recent action have been the following for Fuel firepower: Alex Wideman last 10(3-5-8); Tyler Barnes last 11(4-4-8); Nick Bligh last 8(4-2-6); Kenny Ryan last 8(1-4-5); Matt Rupert last 7(4-0-4); Mike Neal last 4(2-2-4).

THE LEADING MEN: 1- Alex Wideman (17-28-45); 2- Josh Shalla (24-20-44); 3- Kevin Lynch (11-13-24); 4- Paul Zanette (10-13-23); 5- Matt Rupert (14-7-21);6- Kenny Ryan (7-11-18); 7- Tyler Barnes (5-10-15); 8- Nick Bligh (7-6-13); 9- Bryn Chyzyk (5-7-12); 10- Nick Mattson (1-11-12); 11- Zack Miskovic (1-10-11); 12- Brandon Martell (0-11-11); 13- Adam Phillips (2-9-11).

SPECIAL TEAMS SYNOPSIS: The past week for the Fuel was a sound and solid one for their penalty-killing ensemble cast while the power play was not quite as consistent. Indy has disarmed and otherwise defused 10 of the last 11- man advantages afforded the adversary against such vaunted power play machines the caliber and constellation of both Fort Wayne and Toledo. In stifling and stymying 10 of the last 11, the Fuel are operating at an efficiency level of 91%. Meanwhile the extra man band is presently 0 for the last 12 and 4 for the last 20 in power play opportunities in recent activity.

MINING MILESTONES: Defenseman Travis Armstrong played in his 100th pro game the past Friday night on home ice against Fort Wayne. He notched his first-ever Fuel goal the next night in game #101 at Cincinnati. Defenseman and team captain Zach Miskovic (396) is 4-games away from pro career 400. Center Paul Zanette (240) is closing in on career 250-games; right wing Brady Ramsay (144) is 6-games shy of 150. Kenny Ryan (193) is 7-PIM from pro career 200-PIM.

FUEL FACTS: Goaltender Jake Hildebrand continues to lead the league in saves made with 1,150. His 4-shutouts rank as third-most in the ECHL and represents an Indy Fuel all-time club record. The Fuel have dropped 5-games in a row on home ice, being outscored, 30-12 in that span. Their last home victory was back on January 27th when they throttled Rapid City in a 2-0 shutout. Indy's longest home losing streak thus far this season has been 6-in succession. Josh Shalla and Matt Rupert top the team in PPG, each with 4. Shalla has also fired a team-high 6-FG. Alex Wideman leads the team in PPA with 6. Wideman's 3-GWG are Fuel foremost. The Fuel are 9(6-2-1) when leading after the first period and 15(11-3-1) when leading the game entering the third period.

FUEL LIVE TV: All season long in 2016-17, all Indy Fuel Friday night and Saturday night home games are televised live in simulcast form. WTHR-TV 13 (NBC) / COZI-TV will present all of the action with the Fuel's exclusive radio flagship home of CBS SPORTS 1430. Terry Ficorelli will have the play-by-play call with Bob Kravitz and Talor Whitaker.

THE DAILY FUEL FILL-UP: All Fuel hockey fans can stay up to date every day even when there is not a game. It's "The Fuel Fix From Fic," Monday through Friday afternoon during the Kent Sterling Show from 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm on the exclusive radio flagship home of the Indy Fuel CBS SPORTS 1430.

TICKET INFORMATION: Indy Fuel tickets for all home games are available at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations or on line at indyfuelhockey.com. Call us by phone as well at (317) 925-FUEL.

SOUTH OF CHICAGO: Fill your tank at South of Chicago and Fuel your Fridays in the process! Enjoy the lunch buffet at any of the three South of Chicago Pizza & Beef locations and pick up a coupon for $3 off any ticket to a Friday Fuel home game. Must redeem coupon at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum box office, limit one coupon per ticket. For more information, visit nobspizza.com .

Brent Hollerud Director of Marketing Indiana Hockey Club, LLC 1202 East 38th Street Indianapolis, IN 46205 Direct (317) 608-2689 www.indyfuelhockey.com

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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.

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