GAME PREVIEW: FUEL AT WALLEYE
SUNDAY, MARCH 11 - 5:15 P.M.
HUNTINGTON CENTER, TOLEDO, OHIO
BROADCAST INFO: 1070THEFAN.COM, ECHL.TV
The Story: The Indy Fuel (29-28-2-1) look to sweep their weekend slate of games Sunday afternoon as they visit the Central Division-leading Toledo Walleye (42-14-3-2) at Huntington Center. Fans back in Indianapolis are invited to join the official watch party at Squealers Barbeque Grill in Castleton, set to start right before the puck drops at 5:15 p.m. ET. Elsewhere, coverage can be found live on 1070TheFan.com/IndyFuel and through ECHL.TV.
After dropping four straight games last week, the Fuel have responded with a pair of come-from-behind victories against teams they are chasing in the Central Division playoff race. Indy erased a two-goal deficit to Cincinnati on Friday, before rallying from down 3-0 Saturday in Kalamazoo, en route to a 4-3 overtime triumph over the Wings.
Third period goals from Garrett Clarke and Josh Shalla tied the game at three, before Matheson Iacopelli completed the comeback with an end-to-end goal 2:37 into the extra frame. Goaltender Matt Tomkins was exceptional for the Fuel, stopping 46 shots to give his team a shot at the late-game rally.
With the two points and an Idaho overtime win over Kansas City later Saturday night, Indy starts Sunday three points behind the Mavericks for fourth place in the Central and the final Kelly Cup Playoff position. The sixth-place Fuel sit just one point back from Kalamazoo for a share of fifth.
The only team to already clinch their spot in the postseason, Toledo has not lost a game in regulation since Feb. 18. Boasting a league-leading 89 points, the Walleye have won three straight games and hold an 8-0-1-0 mark over their previous nine. The Detroit Red Wings affiliate holds a four-point cushion over the Fort Wayne in the race for the Central Division title, though the Komets have two games in hand.
Multi Point Inspection: Indy improved to 2-2 in games this season decided in overtime ... Forward Matheson Iacopelli (9g, 1a) has accounted for the game-deciding goal in each of the Fuel's previous three wins ... Defenseman Robin Press (9g, 25a) saw his point streak end at 12 games Saturday night in Kalamazoo. Press tallied four goals and 13 assists from Feb. 14 to March 9, the longest streak from an ECHL defenseman this year and a new Fuel franchise record ... Forward Alex Wideman (15g, 23a) has scored in three straight games, and has 17 points (6g, 11a) over his previous 13 contests.
Inside the Matchup: The Fuel are still looking for thier first win of the season against the Walleye, with Toledo winning each of the first six meetings of the nine-game season series. Following Sunday's encounter at Huntington Center, the two teams will square off twice more at Indiana Farmers Coliseum, on March 17 and on the final weekend of the regular season on April 7. The Fuel hold a 1-7-0-1 record all time in Toledo, with the previous victory coming on March 31 of last season.
Scouting Report: Toledo ranks second in the league in team defense, surrendering 2.28 goals per game ... Goaltender Pat Nagle has given up two or fewer goals in eight of his last nine starts ... Defenseman Simon Denis (6g, 28) has points in eight straight games, tallying one goal and 11 assists since Feb. 24 ... Forward Mark Borkowski (17g, 25a) leads the Walleye with 42 points, and has four goals and three assists over his last four games.
ECHL MEDIA KIT