Fuel open doubleheader in Moline against Quad City

GAME PREVIEW: FUEL AT MALLARDS

FRIDAY, JANUARY 12 - 8:05 P.M.

TAXSLAYER CENTER, MOLINE, ILL.

BROADCAST INFO: 1070THEFAN.COM, ECHL.TV

The Story: The Indy Fuel (13-16-2-1) continue a three-game road trip Friday night as they open a weekend doubleheader against the Quad City Mallards (8-21-2-1) at TaxSlayer Center. Puck drop from Moline is set for 8:05 p.m. ET, with live coverage on 1070TheFan.com starting at 7:30 p.m. Fans can also stream Friday's Central Division showdown through their digital device with ECHL.TV.

The Fuel arrive in the Quad Cities winners in each of their last three games away from home - the club's longest road winning streak since the end of the 2016-17 season (March 25-31). Indy's latest triumph in foreign territory came in a 2-1 victory in Fort Wayne last Saturday, earning a split of a weekend home-and-home set with the Komets.

With four wins in their last five games and a 5-2-0-0 record over their previous seven, the Fuel (29 points) sit in sixth place in the Central Division standings, eight points behind the fifth-place Kalamazoo Wings (37 points). Occupying the final playoff spot in the Central with 41 points is Kansas City, though the Fuel have five games in hand on the fourth place Mavericks.

The Mallards enter the weekend looking to snap out of a thirteen-game losing streak (0-11-1-1). Winless since a 5-3 win in Kansas City on December 2, Quad City has dropped four straight in regulation, getting outscored 22-6 in the process. Home ice has been especially unfriendly to the Mallards, who have lost seven straight games at TaxSlayer Center. Quad City's last victories in Moline came in a weekend sweep Nov. 11-12 - against the Fuel.

Wides Makes 27: After making his season debut with the Rockford IceHogs Wednesday in Ontario, forward Alex Wideman became the 27th Fuel player to play in the AHL after seeing time in Indy. Wideman is the 20th player to suit up for both the IceHogs and Fuel, and the fifth this season - joining Collin Delia, Robin Press, Brandon Anselmini and Matt Tomkins.

Just Press Play: Coinciding with Wideman's recall to Rockford on Tuesday, the IceHogs reassigned defenseman Robin Press to Indy. The blueliner from Uppsala, Sweden appeared in five games during his latest recall, recording seven shots on goal and a plus-two rating. In 13 games with the Fuel this season, Press has tallied six assists.

Inside the Matchup: Home ice has been pivitol so far in the season series between Indy and Quad City. Heading into the sixth of 11 meetings between the Central Division rivals, the home team has yet to lose a game. The Fuel have won two straight against the Mallards, and have earned points from two of their three visits to TaxSlayer Center (0-1-1-1) heading into Friday.

Scouting Report: Mallards defenseman Greg Amlong (1g, 7a) has one goal and two assists over his last two games ... Goaltender C.J. Motte rejoined the Mallards on Wednesday, after being released from a PTO with the AHL's Iowa Wild. In four starts with Iowa, Motte posted a 1-1-2 record - the victory coming via a 34-save shutout on Dec. 18.