Komets Cruise to 6-2 Win over Fuel
January 15, 2017 - ECHL (ECHL)
Indy Fuel News Release
FORT WAYNE, IND. - Rookie forward Mike Cazzola logged a five-point performance as the Fort Wayne Komets (21-11-4-0) handed the Indy Fuel (12-23-1-2) a 6-2 setback Sunday afternoon at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. The loss ended a three game winning streak for the Fuel, who finished the week with a 3-1-0-0 mark.
Cazzola, the ECHL's leading first-year scorer, added three goals and two assists to his resume Sunday, figuring into each of Fort Wayne's final five goals. The Komets outscored the Fuel in each frame en route to picking up their first win in four games, and their third straight in the season series between the Hoosier State rivals. Forward Josh Shalla picked up a goal and an assist for Indy, which now heads into the ECHL All-Star Break, beginning on Monday.
Fort Wayne tallied the only goal of the first period, when Gabriel Desjardins tucked a third-chance opportunity behind goaltender Jake Hildebrand at 7:46.
The home team extended their lead to 3-0 with goals from Cazzola and Kyle Thomas just 3:45 apart early in the second period. Later in the frame, Kevin Lynch redirected a Robin Press point shot while on the power play to get the Fuel on the board at 16:38. Shalla marked the secondary assist on Lynch's 11th goal of the season, which came as Indy began to carry the pace of the game in the late stages of the middle frame.
However, the Komets reclaimed momentum early in the third and did not relent, outshooting the Fuel 18-10 and outscoring them by a 3-1 margin down the stretch. Fort Wayne grabbed a 4-1 lead when Cazzola found Curtis Leonard open in the slot at 4:02. Then, just 42 seconds after Shalla scored in transition to make it 4-2 at 7:25, Cazzola banked a centering attempt off an Indy defenseman and behind Hildebrand to restore the Komets' three-goal edge. The Acadia University product completed the hat trick at 9:00 of the third, cashing in on a 5-on-3 power play.
Hildebrand stopped 40 of 46 shots in the defeat, which snapped his string of three consecutive victories. In the other end, Garrett Bartus made 28 saves to improve his record to 9-3-1 this season.
Indy finished 1-for-3 on the power play, with the Komets scoring twice on four opportunities with the extra man. After opening their nine-game season series with three games at the Memorial Coliseum, the two clubs meet up next at Indiana Farmers Coliseum on Feb. 4. Five of the final six games in the season series will take place in Indianapolis.
Following the All-Star Break, the Fuel will begin a six game homestand at Indiana Farmers Coliseum next Friday against the league-leading Toledo Walleye, before welcoming the Cincinnati Cyclones for a Saturday-Sunday doubleheader.
Next Home Game: Friday, January 20 vs. Toledo Walleye - 7:35 p.m. Be on hand as the Fuel make perhaps the biggest announcement for Indianapolis hockey since the Fuel's inaugural season. Friday is also a Fuel College Night presented by Moe's Southwest Grill - pick up a ticket, $5 towards concessions and $5 Moe's Bucks for $20 with a valid college ID.
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.
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