Fuel host Oilers to wrap up weekend slate

GAME PREVIEW: FUEL VS. OILERS

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18 - 7:35 P.M.

INDIANA FARMERS COLISEUM, INDIANAPOLIS

TICKETS: TICKETMASTER, INDIANA FARMERS COLISEUM BOX OFFICE

BROADCAST INFO: 1070THEFAN.COM, ECHL.TV

The Story: The Indy Fuel (3-7-2-1) look for their second win in a row Saturday as they welcome the Tulsa Oilers (5-4-2-2) to Indiana Farmers Coliseum. It's Marvel Super Hero Night, with fans having the chance to meet Thor, Captain America and Iron Man at the game. Tickets are available online through Ticketmaster or at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum box office.

The Fuel snapped a seven-game winless skid Friday with an emphatic 6-2 triumph on home ice over the Kalamazoo Wings. Nathan Noel scored a pair of first period shorthanded goals to spark the Fuel offense, which received multi-point outings from Cam Reid (1g, 2a) and Alex Wideman (1g, 1a).

On the back end, goaltender Étienne Marcoux was stellar while stopping a season-high 45 shots for his first victory of the campaign. Kalamazoo outshot the Fuel by a 47-23 margin, in large part due to 11 total power play opportunities - including seven in the first period alone.

Tulsa arrives in Indy on the heels of a scary episode Friday night in the Quad Cities. The Oilers' game with the Mallards was postponed in the second period after Tulsa head coach Rob Murray suffered a medical emergency.

Entering Friday's game - which the Oilers led 2-1 as it was suspended - Tulsa had picked up points in seven of its last eight games. A 5-2 loss in Kansas City on Tuesday snapped a seven game point streak (4-0-2-1) for the Oilers, which included five consecutive overtime contests from Oct. 29 to Nov. 12.

The First Noel: Rookie forward Nathan Noel recorded his first two professional points in style on Friday night, netting a pair of shorthanded goals in the opening frame of Indy's 6-2 win over Kalamazoo. The Chicago Blackhawks' fourth round draft pick in 2016 becomes the second Fuel player to tally a pair of shorties in one game, joining Mike Neal (March 12, 2017).

Other Fuel Firsts: A few other players reached milestones on Friday night as well. Goaltender Étienne Marcoux's 45 saves marked a career high mark, as the rookie earned his first victory since December of 2014 with the Rapid City Rush. Additonally, first-year defenseman Jack Burton tallied an assist on Tommy Olczyk's empty net goal for his first point as a professional.

Who Needs Even Strength? Friday was a busy night for the Fuel special teams personnel, especially the shorthanded unit. Indy finished the night an astounding 10-for-11 on the penalty kill, the 11 power play chances faced setting a new franchise record. The Fuel scored in just about every man-power situation, tallying two shorthanded goals, a power play goal, a 4-on-4 goal, at even strength and on an empty net.

Inside the Matchup: The Fuel and Oilers meet up in a rematch of the 2017-18 home opener at Indiana Farmers Coliseum back on Oct. 21, which Indy claimed 3-2 in a shootout. Alex Wideman scored the lone goal in the tiebreaker, while Matt Tomkins stopped 29 shots for his first professional victory.

Saturday is the second of three meetings this season between Indy and Tulsa; the two won't meet again until the Fuel visit BOK Center on Feb. 18 to close out the season series. Indy holds a 3-2-0-0 record in the all-time series with the Oilers, with a 2-1 record on home ice.

Scouting Report: Oilers forward Connor Bleackley (8g, 6a) has tallied three goals and two assists over his last four games, leading Tulsa in overall scoring with 14 points ... Goaltender Devin Williams has helped his team to at least a point in all six of his starts this season, posting a 4-0-2 record with one shutout, a 2.31 goals against average and a .934 save percentage.

ECHL MEDIA KIT