Fuel winning streak snapped in Kansas City

Photo courtesy of John Howe / Howe Creative Photography

INDEPENDENCE, MO - The Indy Fuel (3-2-0-0) saw a three game winning streak come to an end Saturday night as they suffered a 7-2 setback to the Kansas City Mavericks (3-1-1-0) at Silverstein Eye Centers Arena. Six unanswered goals by the Mavericks - including four in the late stages of the first period - erased an early Indy lead as the Fuel came up empty in their first road test of the 2018-19 ECHL season.

Twelve different players found the scoresheet for Kansas City, led by a two goal, two assist performance from forward Rocco Carzo. Forward Quentin Shore chipped in a goal and an assist for the Fuel, who were playing in their first game since last Saturday.

Indy came out strong in the opening stages of the contest, nearly finding the net on a pair of early breakaway opportunities, then finally breaking through with a power play goal from Kevin Dufour. After a Shore shot attempt caromed off the stick of teammate Josh Shalla, Dufour corralled a loose puck to beat Kansas City netminder Mason McDonald at 9:13 of the first period.

The Mavericks rebounded from the early deficit to spoil the professional debut of Indy goaltender Jason Pawloski, striking four times before the end of the period to give the home team a commanding 4-1 lead. Carzo had a hand in all four tallies, starting with the primary assist on former Fuel forward Darian Dziurzynski's first of the season at 12:21.

Shortly after his helper, Carzo connected on a shorthanded breakaway at 17:26, the first of three Kansas City markers in a 98-second span. Jordan Ernst picked up his first goal of the season at 18:46, while Carzo potted his second of the night just 17 seconds later to cap the first-period scoring. Pawloski stopped eight of 12 shots in the opening 20 minutes, before being replaced by Matt Tomkins prior to the second period.

Following a scoreless middle frame, the Mavericks extended their lead to 6-1 early with a pair of goals early in the final stanza. Jared VanWormer took advantage of a 5-on-3 power play at 1:58 of the third, before defenseman Jordan Klimek notched his first of the campaign just under two minutes later.

Shore ended the Kansas City rally at 5:20 of the period, beating McDonald inside the near post from a shallow angle. Defensemen Neil Manning and Zach Miskovic accounted for the assists on Shore's team-leading third goal of the season.

David Dziurzynski added a breakaway goal with 4:25 left in regulation to finish the scoring in favor of Kansas City.

McDonald picked up the victory for the Mavericks with a 25-save performance, while Tomkins stopped 26 of 29 Mavericks shots through two periods of relief work for Indy.

The Fuel power play finished the night 1-for-3, while Kansas City scored once on two opportunities.

With only one game on the schedule for this week, Indy returns home for a quick mid-week homestand at Indiana Farmers Coliseum, taking on the Idaho Steelheads on Tuesday before hosting the Utah Grizzlies on Thursday.

Single-game tickets are now on sale for the Fuel's 5th anniversary season at Indiana Farmers Coliseum! Lock up your seat for every second of the action at Indiana Farmers Coliseum with a Fuel Ticket Plan - grab yours by heading to IndyFuelHockey.com or by calling the Fuel front office at 317-925-FUEL. Don't forget to follow the Fuel on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (IndyFuel) for news, updates, contests and much more throughout the 2018-19 season.

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