Fuel end skid with four-goal second period explosion

INDIANAPOLIS - The Indy Fuel push for the playoffs continued Friday night at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum as the home team exploded to the tune of 4-second period goals to erase a 2-0 deficit and defeat the Cincinnati Cyclones, 5-2.

Right wing Johnny McInnis sparked the comeback counterattack crescendo early in the middle frame at the 1:00 mark, a mere :38 after the Cincinnatians had climbed into a 2-0 advantage at the :22 mark of the opening minute. The McInnis goal dramatically changed the complexion of the contest as the Fuel took total control and dominated the rest of the way.

Trailing 2-1, the Fuel came alive as Matt Rupert and Matt Iacopelli fired strikes :15 apart at 9:24 and 9:39 respectively to catapult the victors into their first lead of the night and a lead they never relinquished at 3-2. The two-goals in :15 represented Indy's fastest two goals of the current campaign. Later in the same stanza, Alex Wideman climaxed the crescendo with his club's 50th PPG of the season, producing a 4-2 lead at the second intermission. Indy rained a season's high 22-shots on goal in its second period assault as for the third straight game in this season series between the Fuel and the Cyclones, the team which fashioned the early 2-0 lead succumbed to a come-from-behind winning rally with the Fuel accomplishing the feat twice in that three-games' span.

In the third period, the Fuel protected their two-goals advantage and added an empty net goal when Iacopelli stroked a shot from center circle following a face-off in the same locale. It was Iacopelli's second goal of the night and his 8th in his first 8-games with the Fuel.

The Fuel outshot Cincinnati, 43-32 with goaltender Matt Tomkins posting his 10th victory of the season. The Fuel power play, ranked #1 in the league, was 1-3 while the Cyclones were extinguished on all 4 of their advantages. In their last 4-meetings with Cincinnati, the Fuel power play has percolated at 42.9; going 6-14.

The victory for the Fuel halted their season-long 4-games' losing spell while at the same time ended Cincinnati's 5-games' win streak. With three more meetings remaining, the Fuel have captured the season series over the Cyclones, 7(6-1-0), sweeping all 5 of the clashes here in Indianapolis and 6-straight here in Indy dating back to last season.

Next up for the Fuel is a trip to Kalamazoo to be hosted by the Wings Saturday night at 7:00 pm before traveling to first place Toledo for a clash with the Walleye Sunday at 5:15 pm. The Fuel trail the fifth place Wings by 2-points. Indy has won 5 of their last 7-games at the Wings Event Center.

Both games will be broadcasted beginning at 6:30pm Saturday night and 4:45pm Sunday on WFNI-AM 1070thefan.com.

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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