Indy Routed by Royals in Game 1 of Doubleheader
December 9, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Indy Fuel News Release
READING, PENN. - Two days after falling victim to a five-goal rally in Brampton, the Indy Fuel (8-11-1-1) surrendered seven straight tallies in an 8-2 dismantling at the hands of the Reading Royals (13-8-1-1) Friday night at Santander Arena. The Fuel's most lopsided loss of the season was their second straight to start a five game road trip, and their fifth in a row overall. Indy is now winless in six consecutive contests, dating back to their 5-3 win over Kalamazoo on Nov. 23.
Reading took a 4-2 lead into the second period and added four more tallies the rest of the way, earning their seventh win in a row. Forward Chris McCarthy tallied two goals and two assists, leading a team effort for the Royals that saw seven different goal scorers and 13 different players record a point.
Despite the final result, it was the Fuel that controlled the play early, with the visitors grabbing a pair of first period leads. Alex Wideman opened the scoring with a second-chance effort at 2:22, recollecting his own blocked shot and beating Reading goaltender Mark Dekanich over the shoulder.
Shortly after Royals forward Ryan Penny tied the game on the power play, Nick Mattson put Indy back on top, right off of an offensive zone draw. The defenseman threaded a point shot through traffic for his first marker of the season, giving the Fuel a 2-1 lead at 11:00 of the first.
The rest of the night's offense belonged to Reading, catalyzed by a three-goal outburst that turned Indy's lead into 4-2 Reading advantage in only 92 seconds. McCarthy tied the game with the first of his two scores at 15:32, beating Fuel netminder Eric Levine with a one-timer from the slot. Defenseman Florian Iberer picked up what proved to be the game-winner 35 seconds later with a shot from the left point through traffic. Finally, Derik Johnson converted a pinpoint cross-ice pass from Steven Swavely at 17:04.
Indy found several quality scoring opportunities in the middle frame, but Dekanich kept the deficit at two with a brilliant second period. The goaltender made 17 of his 29 saves in the second, including a handful on forward Kevin Lynch to keep his team in control.
After withstanding the Fuel push, Reading extended its lead with a goal from new acquisition Matt Willows that barely beat the second period buzzer. Last year's ECHL Rookie of the Year picked up his first in a Royals uniform when he redirected a Jesper Pettersson point shot at 19:59.
Tyrell Goulbourne, Mike Pereira and McCarthy all scored in the third as Reading wrapped up its best offensive performance of the season, handing the Fuel what was their worst defensive outing of the campaign. Levine finished with 35 saves, suffering his third straight defeat.
Indy finished the night 0-for-1 on the man advantage, while holding the Royals to one goal on five power play opportunities - including an extended 5-on-3 advantage in the third.
The two clubs will wrap up their season series tomorrow night in a rematch at Santander Arena. Indy wraps up a five-game swing away from Indiana Farmers Coliseum next week with a pair of visits to the Cincinnati Cyclones.
Next Home Game: Saturday, December 17 vs. Quad City Mallards - 7:35 p.m. (Teddy Bear Toss) The fur is ready to fly again during one of the most exciting promotions of the season! Bring new and gently used stuffed animals to the game, then throw your plush projectiles onto the ice after the Fuel score their first goal! Each fuzzy friend collected will be donated to Toys For Tots in time to make the holidays brighter for Children around Central Indiana.
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.
ECHL Stories from December 9, 2016
- Gladiators Unable to Finish Comeback, Fall 4-2 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Game Recap: Camara's Two-Goal Night Not Enough for Wings on Road - Kalamazoo Wings
- Skoff's First Career Shutout Guides Floridato a 1-0 Victory - Florida Everblades
- Auger, Fucale Lead Beast to a 4-2 Win over Nailers - Brampton Beast
- Thunder Blanked in First Meeting vs. Allen - Wichita Thunder
- Solar Bears Grind out Another Road Win in 4-2 Victory - Orlando Solar Bears
- Monarchs Win Fourth-Straight, Sink Admirals, 5-3 - Manchester Monarchs
- Mavericks Defeat Oilers on Teddy Bear Toss Night in Tulsa - Tulsa Oilers
- Royals Explode for Eight against Indy, 8-2 - Reading Royals
- Mavericks Grind out Road Win in Tulsa - Kansas City Mavericks
- Cyclones Drop Heartbeaker in Overtime - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Brassart Gives Mallards 4-3 Overtime Win in Cincinnati - Quad City Mallards
- Jackals Shut out by Everblades - Elmira Jackals
- Indy Routed by Royals in Game 1 of Doubleheader - Indy Fuel
- Beast Prevail with Special Teams Success - Wheeling Nailers
- Rays Blanked by Swamp Rabbits - South Carolina Stingrays
- Monarchs Four-Goal Second Drowns Admirals - Norfolk Admirals
- Nailers Loan Nick Sorkin to San Diego Gulls - Wheeling Nailers
- Mavericks Sign Matt Robertson - Kansas City Mavericks
- ECHL Transactions - December 9 - ECHL
- Americans Face Wichita for the First Time this Season - Allen Americans
- Cyclones Game Notes: vs Quad City - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Nailers at Beast Game Day Snap Shot, December 9 - Wheeling Nailers
- Walleye Celebrity Sundays - Toledo Walleye
- STEELHEADS: Game Day Storylines- at Colorado - Idaho Steelheads
- Reading Royals (ECHL) Transactions: Lamarche - Swavely Loaned To Reading - Reading Royals
- Mavericks Game Preview - December 9 at Tulsa - Kansas City Mavericks
- Game Preview: Orlando Solar Bears at Atlanta Gladiators - Orlando Solar Bears
- Four Added to Gladiators Roster - Atlanta Gladiators
- Jackals Eye Revenge in Rematch with Everblades - Elmira Jackals
- Mallards Game Day - Quad City Mallards
- Monarchs Game Day Capsule - Manchester Monarchs
- Do You Have Your Teddy Bear for the Game Tonight? - Tulsa Oilers
- Leach Returns to Hershey - South Carolina Stingrays
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