Fuel Performance Review: Logan Nelson

2017-18 FUEL PERFORMANCE REVIEW: LOGAN NELSON

#15 | FORWARD | ROGERS, MINN.

2017-18 STATS: 66 GP, 10 G, 25 A, 35 PTS, 38 PIM, 4 PPG, 3 GWG

(STATS WITH INDY: 21 GP, 7 G, 12 A, 19 PTS, 8 PIM, 3 PPG, 2 GWG)

Joining the Fuel roster in late Feburary, forward Logan Nelson was an integral part of Indy's late charge up the Central Division standings. Acquired via trade from the Fort Wayne Komets in exchange for rookie defenseman Anthony Cortese, Nelson made an immediate impact in Indianapolis - tallying 19 points in 21 contests with the Fuel after picking up a total of 16 points in 45 games split between Fort Wayne, Orlando and Norfolk to begin 2017-18.

Giving Head Coach Bernie John another dependable forward with a scoring touch, Nelson was soon slotted as the club's top-line center, playing between Darian Dziurzynski and Michael Neal for the last portion of the regular season. The trio produced at a feverish clip down the home stretch, with Nelson recording six goals and six assists over the Fuel's final 10 games.

The native of Rogers, Minn. seemed to thrive when the lights were brightest, scoring several key goals in key situations to help Indy secure its first playoff berth in franchise history. Nelson scored a pair of goals to lead the Fuel to a critical 4-1 victory in Kansas City on April 3, less than a week after logging a four-point night in a 6-3 home win over the Mavericks. He then scored arguably the biggest goal in Fuel history on April 8, when his first-period tally stood to be the game-winning marker in Indy's playoff-clinching victory over the Kalamazoo Wings.

"Nelly was a good pick up for us. Obviously losing him in the playoffs hurt, but when he got in his groove and settled in with Nealer and Z, they were a formidable line that created opportunities." - Head Coach Bernie John

New game plan - keep giving the puck to @logan_nelson93. #KCvsIND pic.twitter.com/z82ovlaRUa

— Indy Fuel (@IndyFuel) March 31, 2018