Mallards Steal Two Points in Fuel's Road Trip Finale
November 29, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Indy Fuel News Release
MOLINE, ILL. - The Indy Fuel were just seconds away from ending their tough eight-day road trip with an exclamation mark and a big divisional victory, but the Quad City Mallards had other ideas. The Mallards (11-7-1-2) rallied in the final 30 seconds of play, and picked up an overtime winner from Austin Coldwell to stun the Fuel (9-7-2-0) 3-2 at iWireless Center on Sunday afternoon.
Quad City scored two goals in 19 seconds in the waning moments of regulation to erase a 2-0 Fuel lead, before Coldwell capped off the comeback with a wrap-around goal 4:14 into 3-on-3 overtime. It was a stunning turn of events for an Indy club that played extremely well and was poised to take the first victory from a brutal five-game trip away from home. The Fuel return to Central Indiana picking up one point from the road swing, finishing a grueling stretch of seven games in ten days with a 2-4-1-0 record.
After a pair of goals from Alex Lavoie gave Indy a 2-0 cushion, Mallards left wing Ryan Tesink halved the deficit when he let loose a fluttering shot that eluded Fuel goaltender Mac Carruth with 30 seconds remaining in regulation. Just 19 seconds later, Quad City's Matt Neal found the equalizer when he got a piece of a Sam Warning shot from just inside the blue line.
The last-minute rally spoiled what was Lavoie's second multi-goal effort in his last three outings, and a solid performance from Carruth in the Fuel net. The goaltender made 30 saves in dropping to 4-2-2-0 on the season, after coming within 30 seconds of recording his second shutout of the season. Quad City's Steve Michalek was the winning goaltender of record, stopping 24 of 26 shots faced.
Indy opened the scoring 5:42 into the opening period when Lavoie converted on a breakaway sprung via a brilliant stretch pass from Ben Marshall. Dealing with forechecking pressure inside the Fuel blue line, Marshall threaded a pass through two zones and several sets of feet and found Lavoie just at the far blue. The forward beat Michalek to the glove side to grab his first of the night and to give his team an early 1-0 lead.
After a back-and-forth middle frame, Lavoie made it 2-0 on a third-period power play, when he tucked a perfect shot just inside the right goal post. Dylan Clarke and Rhett Bly picked up the assists, with Clarke making a centering pass to the high slot from the wing to set up Lavoie at 8:15. The 23-year-old from Anjou, Quebec now has four goals in his last three outings, and seven points (4g, 3a) over his last seven games dating back to Nov. 21.
Indy's power play finished 1-for-7 on the evening, while killing off the only Mallards man advantage they faced.
With the win, Quad City assumed first place of the ECHL's Midwest Division with 25 points. The Fuel sit in third place with 20 points; three behind the second-place Cincinnati Cyclones.
Next up for Indy is a four-game homestand at Indiana Farmers Coliseum, beginning with a Thursday-Friday doubleheader against the Toledo Walleye. The Fuel have yet to lose on home ice this season, showing a perfect 6-0-0-0 record in the Circle City.
CYBER MONDAY SALE: For 24 hours on Cyber Monday, certain seats will be available for every Fuel home game starting at just $12 each! Offer good only for select seating areas and you must purchase the tickets via the Fuel Ticketmaster page . Don't miss out on a great stocking stuffer for the hockey fan in your life!
NEXT HOME GAME: Thursday, December 3 vs. Toledo Walleye - 7:05 p.m. Start the weekend early by taking in some Fuel hockey during the first $10 Thursday of the 2015-16. Come to Indiana Farmers Coliseum as Indy hosts Toledo, and receive a $10 concessions voucher with every paid admission.
Single-game tickets are now on sale at Ticketmaster or at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum box office, while a variety of different ticket plans and group specials are available by calling (317) 925-FUEL or visiting IndyFuelHockey.com . Don't miss out on anything from the Fuel in 2015-16, follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@IndyFuel ) and don't forget to 'Like' the Fuel on Facebook .
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