GAME PREVIEW: FUEL AT OILERS
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17 - 5:05 P.M.
BOK CENTER, TULSA, OKLA.
BROADCAST INFO: 1070THEFAN.COM, ECHL.TV
The Story: The Indy Fuel (23-23-2-1) finish a season-long road seven game road trip Sunday afternoon as they visit the Tulsa Oilers (22-22-3-6) at the BOK Center. Puck drop from Oklahoma is slated for 5:05 p.m. ET, and fans back in Indianapolis can follow the action live at the official watch party taking place at Squealers Barbeque Grill in Castleton, as well as on 1070TheFan.com/IndyFuel and ECHL.TV.
The Fuel arrive in Tulsa after sweeping a huge two-game set in Kansas City to start the weekend. After rallying in the third period for a 4-2 victory on Friday, Indy withstood a Mavericks comeback attempt Saturday, winning 4-3 in a shootout.
Kansas City scored the final two goals in regulation to erase a 3-1 deficit and force overtime, but Alex Wideman found the only marker in the tie-breaker to give Indy the extra point. Goaltender Matt Tomkins was stellar for the visitors, recording 46 saves plus stopping all three shots he faced in the shootout.
Entering Sunday with a 4-2 record through the first six games of their seven game trip, Indy is inching closer to the Central Division playoff picture. The two wins in Kansas City drew the Fuel (49 points) within three points of the fifth-place Mavericks, trailing the Cincinnati Cyclones and Kalamazoo Wings by seven points for a share of one of the two final postseason berths in the Central.
Finishing a three-game set on home ice Sunday, Tulsa is coming off an impressive two-game sweep of its own. The Oilers kicked off a five game homestand a pair of victories over the ECHL-leading Florida Everblades, winning 3-1 and 3-0 on Friday and Saturday respectively. Last night, Garrett Ladd scored twice and netminder Devin Williams stopped 26 of 26 shots to stymie the Everblades.
Holding a 5-4-0-1 record over its last 10 games, Tulsa sits in fifth place in the Mountain Division standings, just three points behind the Allen Americans for the fourth and final playoff playoff spot.
Multi Point Inspection: Indy improves to 2-1 this season in games decided in a shootout ... In three starts since being reassigned to the Fuel, Matt Tomkins has stopped 120 of 129 shots faced (.930) ... Indy is 4-1-1-0 this season against Mountain Division opponents ... Josh Shalla (13g, 9a) extended a point streak to seven games with a goal on Saturday, giving him four goals and five assists during the same span ... Forward Darian Dziurzynski (17g, 14a) has points in six straight games (5g, 3a).
Inside the Matchup: Sunday is the third and final meeting between Indy and Tulsa in 2017-18. The Fuel won the previous two encounters, both taking place at Indiana Farmers Coliseum. Indy defeated the Oilers 3-2 in a shootout back on Oct. 21, before claiming a 4-3 victory on Nov. 18.
The Fuel hold a 4-2-0-0 edge in the all-time series against the Winnipeg Jets affiliate, winning four straight games dating back to 2016-17. Indy's last visit to the BOK Center came a year ago to the day, in a decisive 6-2 triumph on Feb. 18, 2017.
Scouting Report: Tulsa goaltender Devin Williams has stopped 54 of 55 shots over his last two starts. His three shutouts is tied for the ECHL lead ... Garrett Ladd (18g, 13a) has tallied four goals and five assists over his last four games ... The Oilers are 4-9-0-3 against Central Divsion opponents ... Tulsa's 12 shorthanded goals is tied for the most in the league.
ECHL MEDIA KIT