Fuel look to rebound against Kansas City

GAME PREVIEW: FUEL VS. MAVERICKS

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25 - 7:35 P.M.

INDIANA FARMERS COLISEUM, INDIANAPOLIS

TICKETS: TICKETMASTER, INDIANA FARMERS COLISEUM BOX OFFICE

BROADCAST INFO: 1070THEFAN.COM, ECHL.TV

The Story: After a tough loss Friday night, the Indy Fuel (4-8-2-1) look to bounce back Saturday as they host the Kansas City Mavericks (10-7-0-0) at Indiana Farmers Coliseum.

The puck drops at 7:35 for Star Wars Night presented by Indiana Farmers Mutual Insurance. The first 1,200 fans will receive a free lightsaber giveaway, while the Fuel will be wearing special Star Wars-themed jerseys which will be up for grabs during a live post-game auction. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster and at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum box office.

Indy saw its two game winning streak snapped Friday after a 4-2 defeat at the hands of the Fort Wayne Komets. Three goals in the final 7:21 of the third period broke a 1-1 deadlock in favor of the visitors, spoiling another stellar performance from Fuel goaltender Étienne Marcoux.

The rookie finished with 47 saves, keeping his team within striking distance despite Fort Wayne holding a 51-23 edge in shots on goal. Michael Neal tallied a pair of goals in the loss, the first of which erased an 1-0 Komets lead early in the first period.

To get back on the winning track, Indy will have to cool off one of the hottest teams in the league over the past few weeks. Kansas City used a six-game winning streak to jump into second place in the Central Division standings - a streak which ended Friday with a 5-2 loss in Kalamazoo. The Mavericks have been exeptional away from home this season, with their eight roads win tied for the most in the ECHL.

The Brick Wall From Laval: One week after making a career-high 45 saves against Kalamazoo last Friday, goaltender Étienne Marcoux broke his own record with a 47-save outing Friday against Fort Wayne. The netminder stopped 33 of 34 shots in the first two periods alone against the Komets, helping the Fuel finish 6-for-7 on the penalty kill as well. Marcoux leads the entire ECHL with a .934 save percentage.

Rupes Reunited: Saturday marks the expected return of forward Ryan Rupert (2g, 4a) to the Fuel lineup, after the forward served a four game suspension from an incident on Nov. 12 in Quad City. Rupert's six points this season ranks tied for fourth in the Fuel lineup.

Ansel, So Hot Right Now, Ansel: A player who made a splash his return to action Friday night was defenseman Brandon Anselmini (2a). Missing nine games from Oct. 28 to Nov. 18 due to injury, Anselmini recorded an assist and provided a physical presence Friday against the Komets.

Inside the Matchup: Saturday is the first of just five meetings between the Fuel and Mavericks this season, the first of two at Indiana Farmers Coliseum. After Saturday's encounter, the two divisional rivals will not see each other until a two-game series at the Silverstein Eye Centers Arena on Feb. 16-17.

The Mavericks arrive in Indy having won each of their past nine encounters with the Fuel, dating back to the 2014-15 season. Kansas City (formerly Missouri) swept a three-game series last season, with two of the the three games taking place in Indianapolis. The Fuel's only victory against the Mavericks came in a 5-1 triumph on Oct. 24, 2014 at Indiana Farmers Coliseum.

Scouting Report: Mavericks leading scorer Mike McMurtry (7g, 11a) has tallied four goals and five assists over his last seven games ... Forward Mark Cooper (2g, 7a) has found the scoresheet in four of his last five games, putting up one goal and four assists over that span ... Kansas City goaltender Tyler Parsons has won each of his last five starts, allowing three or more goals just once. The reigning CCM/ECHL Goaltender of the Week ranks tied for third in the ECHL with seven wins.

ECHL MEDIA KIT