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INDY FUEL PIT STOP – WEEK 2
Fuel sweep second half of season-opening homestand; enter Week 3 in first place in the Central Division
OCT 22, 2018
INDY FUEL WEEK 2 RESULTS: (2-0-0-0, 3-1-0-0 Overall, 1st Central Division)
Friday, October 19 – Fuel 4 vs. Cincinnati 1: Another strong second period paced the Fuel to a 4-1 triumph over the Cincinnati Cyclones Friday night at Indiana Farmers Coliseum. Three unanswered tallies in the middle frame – including two from Josh Shalla – helped Indy break open a 1-1 tie, while goaltender Matt Tomkins held the Cyclones at bay with 39 saves. Defenseman Robert Powers logged a goal and an assist, while Matt Rupert chipped in a goal to tie the game at one after an early first period Cincinnati strike.
Saturday, October 20 – Fuel 4 vs. Toledo 3 (OT): Quentin Shore’s goal with 12.6 seconds left in overtime capped off a dramatic last-minute comeback for the Fuel, as they knocked off the Toledo Walleye 4-3 at Indiana Farmers Coliseum. Shore’s game-winner came after rookie forward Brett Welychka scored a power-play goal with 33 seconds left in regulation time to tie the game after Toledo took a 3-2 lead with 59 seconds remaining on a power play of its own. Matt Tomkins picked up his third straight victory in net with a 33-save performance, while Matt Rupert and Connor Moynihan scored in the first and second periods respectively to build Indy a 2-0 lead before the Walleye rallied to tie the game early in the third.
INDY FUEL WEEK 3 SCHEDULE:
Saturday, October 27 – Fuel at Kansas City (8:05 p.m. ET, Silverstein Eye Centers Arena)
[NEXT HOME GAME: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30 VS. IDAHO]
OIL DROPS:
-With a 3-1-0-0 record through Week 2, Indy is off to the best start through four games in franchise history. The Fuel’s previous high mark came in 2015-16 when they held a 2-1-1-0 mark through the first four games of the season.
-During the club’s current three-game winning streak, Indy has outscored its opponents by a 9-3 margin in the second period.
-Five of the Fuel’s last seven games against Toledo (including the 2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs) have extended past regulation time, including each of the last three regular-season meetings in Indianapolis.
-Saturday night was Indy’s first overtime win at Indiana Farmers Coliseum since a 4-3 victory over Cincinnati on March 24, 2015, snapping a four-game winless skid in overtime games on home ice.
-The Fuel’s 4.25 goals scored per game is good for a tie for second-most in the ECHL, tied with the Utah Grizzlies and behind only the Jacksonville IceMen (5.00).
-After playing four straight games at home to start the season, Indy will play seven of its next 10 games on the road.
-Forward Josh Shalla (2g, 5a) has registered two points in each of his last three games and has at least a point in all four of Indy’s games.
-Shalla’s seven points put him in a fifth-place tie in the league scoring list, while his five assists are also tied for fifth in the ECHL.
-Forward Matt Rupert tallied his 100th career ECHL point with a goal in Friday’s win over Cincinnati, before tacking on another goal on Saturday. Following the weekend, the fourth-year pro has logged 53 goals and 48 assists in 200 ECHL contests with Indy and the Orlando Solar Bears.
–Matt Rupert and his twin brother Ryan have combined for 10 points over Indy’s last three games, with each player marking two goals and three assists.
-Rookie forward Connor Moynihan (2g, 1a) has tallied a point in three straight games to begin his professional career.
ECHL Player of the Week Nominee: F Josh Shalla (2 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 1 GWG, +2)
ECHL Goaltender of the Week Nominee: G Matt Tomkins (2 GP, 2-0-0, 1.92 GAA, .947 SV%)
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