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ECHL Indy Fuel

INDY FUEL PIT STOP Weekly: WEEK 6

November 21, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Indy Fuel News Release


THE FUEL REVIEW: On the impetus of a clean sweep of their 3-home games in 3-days the past weekend at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum, the high-tech, high-octane Indy Fuel have extended their winning streak to a season's best 5-in a row. In the process, Head Coach Bernie John's surging squad has vaulted into a share of fourth place in the fiercely-competitive, hotly-contested Western Conference Central Division standings with their overall record ascending above the .500 barrier at 14(7-6-1) totaling 15-points. Having laid claim to the initial 3-games of an expanded home stand consisting of 4-games in 6-days, the men of the Fuel will commence the Thanksgiving holiday week deadlocked with Quad City 14(7-6-1)15 for that fourth place position while maintaining a slight 1-point edge over Wichita 12(7-5-0)14 and Kalamazoo 15(6-7-2)14. Indy is 3-points back of third place Fort Wayne 13(8-3-2)18. The Fuel's present 3-game home ice win skein also represents their longest of the campaign at this juncture of the season.

HOME TEAM TONIC: In the midst of their most favorable schedule of the 2016-17 ECHL season, the Fuel are playing 7 of 8-games at home. Overall, their docket shows a rather ambitious agenda comprised of 7-games in 10-days. Thus far, Indy has been impeccable in this opportunistic stretch, recording a flawless 3(3-0-0) mark, outscoring the visitors, 16-9. For the season, the Indy home composite record has been advanced and enhanced to 7(4-2-1).

WRAP THE RECAP: The past weekend, the Fuel offense was both proficient and prolific-terrific, producing 16-GF in capturing 3-conquests in as many contests with Wheeling and Atlanta the vanquished parties.

Friday night, the Fuel derailed the Nailers 5-game win streak in an emphatic 6-1 domination. Marek Tvrdon blazed a pair goals 3:11 apart to fuse a 3-goal explosion in 5:17; Indy's fastest 3-goals thus far this season. Alex Wideman (1-1-2), Chris Williams (FG), Evan Mosey and Anthony Beauregard also made connection while Patrick D'Amico collected 3-assists. The Beauregard goal was his third consecutive GWG for the victors. For a second straight game, goaltender Jake Hildebrand was acclaimed the game's #1 Star with 29-saves.

Saturday night, in the opening game of a two-game series against Atlanta, the Fuel, for a second successive stanza, torched a 3-goal torrent in the opening frame of the game before withstanding a furious Gladiators comeback counterattack to ultimately prevail, 4-3. Evan Moseby authored a pair of first stanza strikes 1:44 apart with Matt Stanisz (PPG) and Alex Wideman delivering the late GWG. Hildebrand, in his fourth straight start, posted his fourth straight victory, brushing aside 28-shots.

In a Sunday matinee feature, Indy completed the sweep of the week and of the Atlantans, surmounting two daunting deficits to eventually and ultimately overcome the 'Glads," 6-5. Kevin Lynch fired the TBG/GWG with 3:45 remaining in regulation time to sever the 5-5 tie after Alex Wideman's second goal of the game, :19 after Atlanta had gained the lead at 5-4. In his Fuel debut, Tyler Barnes scored the game's FG contributing 5-points (1-4-5). Eric Levine achieved his first Fuel victory in goal, rebuffing 35-shots.

THANKSGIVING WITH THE FUEL: On this holiday week, the Fuel face yet another demanding slate, playing 4-games in 5-days with three of those dates dedicated to home appearances and two of the clashes against their own Central Division foes. Wednesday night, the Fuel's finest will host divisional rival Kalamazoo for the first time this season. Then on Friday night, it's a sojourn to the Quad Cities for another divisional showdown; this one with the Mallards. Indy will be looking to avenge a 4-1 setback inflicted by the "Quad Squad" here in Indianapolis back on November 5th. Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, the defending Brabham Cup Champions Missouri Mavericks will arrive for a two-games series. The Mavs subdued the Fuel back on the second weekend of the season in their home lair on October 22nd, 2-1.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS: Wednesday night is the first of three All-You-Can-Eat weekdays this season at Indiana Farmers Coliseum. the Thanksgiving feast begins in earnest. Fans can enjoy all-you-can-eat hot dogs, burgers, popcorn and nachos. Saturday night finds Nitro hosting the third annual "Mascot Mania Night." Sunday presents another Family Fun Day, complete with a free post-game skate with Fuel players.

ON THE AIR EVERYWHERE: Every Fuel home game played on Friday and Saturday nights from Indiana Farmers Coliseum, the team simulcast is live on the air, both on television and radio. WTHR-TV 13 / COZI-TV joins forces with radio flagship station CBS Sports 1430 for all of the Indy hockey excitement. Terry Ficorelli is joined by Bob Kravitz and Talor Whitaker.

#10 IS A TEN: Left wing Alex Wideman enjoyed a prodigious week of point-producing prowess for the Fuel-men the past weekend. The second-year product of Miami of Ohio, U., engineered three consecutive multiple point performances in as many days to ignite the Fuel firepower. In Friday's 6-1 dismissal of Wheeling, he was (1-1-2) with 5-SOG and +2 rating. In Saturday's 4-3 clipping of Atlanta, he duplicated his (1-1-2) production, connecting on the GWG at 17:01 of the third period with 4-SOG and masterful +3 rating, being named the game's #2 Star. In Sunday's encore success, Wideman uncorked a pair of snipes in a 3-points masterpiece with 5-more SOG, +2 rating and, again, earning #2 Star laurels. For the week, he was 3(4-3-7) with 14-SOG, 1-GWG and brilliant +7 rating. For the season, Wideman is the Fuel's leading scorer with 14(7-6-13. He is the Fuel's nomination for Sher-Wood/ECHL Player of the Week.

SOUL OF GOAL: First-year goalkeeper Jake Hildebrand continues to sprout rubber limbs on demand with his extraordinary puck-stopping stupendo. The Michigan State All-American achieved back-to-back victories in as many nights the past weekend in a 6-1 victory verdict over Wheeling on Friday night. He rebuffed 29-shots, earning the game's #1 Star for a second consecutive game. Saturday night, he posted his fourth victory in succession in a 4-3 decision over Atlanta. For the week, he was 2(2-0-0) with a 2.00 GAA and .934 SPCT. Having accounted for 6 of his team's 7-wins thus far this season; 9(6-2-1), Hildebrand, during his 4-game win streak has essayed a brilliant 1.47 GAA and .950 SPCT. The first two-time winner of the CCM/ECHL Goaltender of the Week, Hildebrand, again, this week, is the Fuel nomination for this honor.

"BARNES-STORMING" STAR: Right wing Tyler Barnes made his Fuel debut one to remember in Indy infamy. In a record-breaking, history-making enormous performance, the former ECHL Toledo and Missouri scoring kingpin majestically maestroed a massive 5-points premiere in sparking his team to triumph on Sunday against Atlanta. Assigned to the Fuel by AHL Rockford, the former U. of Wisconsin standout scored his first goal on his first shift in the first period before assisting on the next 4-goals in consecutive fashion. His +4 rating for the game was also the best from the Fuel this season. The American-bred from Burnsville, Minnesota was named the game's #1 Star.

FIRST FOR FUEL FOREMOST: The Fuel have now scored the game's FG in their last 4-games during this current 5-game winning streak. For the season, they are perfect personified in this department at 6(6-0-0). The first period has been the Fuel's finest frame, out-goaling their opponents, 12-9 overall and 10-7 on home ice.

HALF-HALF DOZEN/HALF DOZEN: During this current 5-game win streak, the Fuel nation has come out of its goal-scoring hibernation. Twice the past weekend, they equaled their highest scoring output for a single game with 6-goal eruptions, having attained such potent proficiency a total of three times thus far this season. Meanwhile, the past weekend, Indy ignited three goal single stanza powder kegs to match their best scoring period of the year. The Fuel have crafted such single stanza magic a total of 5-times this season.

HOMESTEAD STELLAR: The Fuel power play has been percolating prominently and dominantly in recent action; especially on home ice. On home ice the past weekend, the extra man attack made connection on 3 of its last 4-advantages. In doing so, Indy soared to the top spot in ECHL power play positive aptitude on home ice. For the season at home, it is 6 for 13 for a masterful rating of 46.2%. The Fuel have yet to succeed on the power play away from home bay as all 6-PPG have been generated at home.

FUEL FACTS: Five of the Fuel's 7-wins have come when they are outshot by the opposition competition. Indy continues to excel outside their own division, posting a mark of 10(7-2-1), accounting for all 7 of their victories. They are a perfect 4(4-0-0) against the South Division. However, against their own Central Division, Indy is winless at 4(0-4-0), being outscored sizably, 17-4. The Fuel are undefeated at 5(5-0-0) entering the third period with the lead; 5(1-4-0) when trailing after two periods. Anthony Beauregard (3) and Alex Wideman (3) have registered 6 of the Fuel's 7-GWG with Kevin Lynch adding 1-GWG. The Fuel are 1-0 in the OTSO and 5(5-0-0) dating back to last season. In the OT, the Fuel are 1(0-1-0) this season and 7(2-5-0) dating back to last season. The Fuel are 7(4-2-1) at home and 7(3-4-0) on the road, having won their last 2-road decisions. Matt Stanisz tops all Fuel defensemen with 3-goals; Jonathan Carlsson has scored 1. Center Patrick D'Amico's 3-assists Friday night against Wheeling represented a personal single game high.

THE FUEL COMPLETE SWEEP OF THE WEEK; WINNING STREAK REACHES 5-IN A ROW AND COUNTING

INDY SURGES INTO FOURTH PLACE TIE AS SEASON RECORD CATAPULTS OVER THE .500 PLATEAU

FOUR GAMES IN 5-DAYS THANKSGIVING WEEK; 3 AT HOME; KALAMAZOO AND MISSOURI COME TO TOWN

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS: 3(3-0-0) 16-9

FRI. NOV. 18 WHEELING 1 AT FUEL 6

SAT. NOV. 19 ATLANTA 3 AT FUEL 4

SUN. NOV. 20 ATLANTA 5 AT FUEL 6

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: (4)

WED. NOV. 23 KALAMAZOO AT FUEL 7:05 PM

FRI. NOV. 25 FUEL AT QUAD CITY 8:05 PM

SAT. NOV. 26 MISSOURI AT FUEL 7:35 PM

SUN. NOV. 27 MISSOURI AT FUEL 3:05 PM

NEXT HOME GAMES: WED. NOV. 23TH VS. KALAMAZOO; SAT. NOV. 25TH AND SUN. NOV. 26TH VS, MISSOURI

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 to 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 Farmers Coliseum Box Office, all Ticketmaster Locations or check us out on line at IndyFuelHockey.com or call us 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 .

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