INDIANAPOLIS - All-Star center Mike Neal's third period goal at the 12:04 mark of the third period snapped a 2-2 tie and vaulted the Fuel into the victory circle Saturday night at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum as Indy defeated the Cincinnati Cyclones, 3-2.
Before a sellout crowd of 6,528, Indy captured its third consecutive victory, equaling their longest win streak of the current campaign.
The Fuel surged into a 2-0 opening period advantage when Garrett Clarke (2) and Robin Press (2) connected 5:26 apart with the Press strike stoked on the Fuel's 28th PPG of the season. Indy's 28th PPG was attained in game #36 and the midway point of the season. The 28-PPG equal the Fuel's entire output from last season.
The Cyclones rallied with a pair of goals to knot matters at 2-2 before Neal's goal-scoring heroics. The shots on goal were even at 30-apiece as goaltender E.T. Marcoux posted his 11th victory, making 28-saves.
The Fuel power play was 1-7 while the Indy penalty-killing unit continue to shine, defusing all 7 of the Cyclones man advantages. The victory was the Fuel's third in as many meetings this season against Cincinnati with all 3-victories achieved on home ice.
Indy is now 5(4-1-0) in the last 5-games; last 9(7-2-0) and 11(8-3-0) over its last 11-outings. In the process, the Fuel have inched within 1-game of the .500 plateau at the half way point at 36(16-17-3) for 35-points. They have now won 5-straight 1-goal decisions and are 8(6-2-0) in their last 8-dates within their own Western Conference Central Division.
The resurgent Fuel continue their most grueling part of the schedule consisting of 7-games in 10-days Sunday afternoon in a 3:00 pm matinee affair at Kalamazoo against the Wings with the broadcast at 2:30 pm on WFNI-AM 1070thefan.com.
The Fuel's next home appearance is on the docket for Tuesday night, January 23rd at 7:05 pm when they host their principal archrivals, the Fort Wayne Komets on “All-You-Can-Eat Night,” at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum.
Single-Game tickets are now available for the entire 2017-18 Fuel season at Indiana Farmers Coliseum! Fans can also take advantage of a wide variety of Ticket Plans by calling 317-925-FUEL or visiting IndyFuelHockey.com. Don't miss a second of the action during the 2017-18 season - follow the Fuel on Twitter and Instagram (@IndyFuel) and ‘Like' the Fuel on Facebook.
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