Fuel and Grizzlies open three game set in Utah

FANIMATION GAME PREVIEW: FUEL AT GRIZZLIES

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14 - 9:05 P.M.

MAVERIK CENTER, WEST VALLEY CITY, UTAH

BROADCAST INFO: ECHL.TV

THE MATCHUP: The Indy Fuel (6-5-0-0) open a three-game set at Maverik Center against the Utah Grizzlies (7-1-3-0) Wednesday night. Following tonight's tilt, the two Fuel and Grizzlies will clash again on Friday and Saturday to wrap up a four game season series.

The two clubs met in Indianapolis on November 1, with Indy seizing a 4-1 victory at Indiana Farmers Coliseum. Led by a three-point night from Matt Rupert, the Fuel outscored the Grizzlies 3-0 over the second and third periods to hand Utah its first and only regulation loss of the 2018-19 campaign to date.

Utah has won three of the four meetings in the all-time series between the two teams, with this week marking Indy's first-ever trip to West Valley City.

LAST TIME OUT: The Fuel salvaged a weekend split with Cincinnati Saturday night as they defeated the Cyclones 4-3 at Indiana Farmers Coliseum. Indy built leads of 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 before defenseman Josh McArdle put the Fuel on top for good with the eventual game-winning goal at 6:26 of the third period. Kevin Dufour logged a goal and two assists, while Jordy Stallard and Ryan Rupert also scored for the Fuel, who improved to 5-2 on home ice with the win.

DOWN TO THE WIRE: Saturday night's rematch against the Cyclones featured something the Fuel had not seen a lot of lately - a close score in the third period. With the score even at two after two periods of play, Saturday was actually the first time all season Indy entered the third tied. The 4-3 victory against Cincinnati improved the Fuel's record to 2-0 on the year in games decided by one goal.

RYAN ON A ROLL: With his second period tally on Saturday, Fuel forward Ryan Rupert extended his point streak to six games, collecting one goal and six assists over that span. The veteran forward has found the scoresheet in 10 of his last 11 outings dating back to October 13, and ranks second in team scoring with 13 points (3g, 10a).

REPORT FROM THE FARM: The Fuel's AHL affiliate Rockford IceHogs made a pair of roster moves early this week, recalling goaltender Kevin Lankinen on Sunday before reassigning rookie forward Connor Moynihan on Tuesday. Lankinen heads back to the AHL after posting a 3-0 record in three starts during his stint in Indy, while Moynihan returns to the Fuel roster after appearing in a pair of games with the IceHogs. Moynihan ranks second among Fuel rookie forwards with five points (3g, 2a) in eight games, while his two shorthanded goals is tied for the league lead among first year forwards.

BEARING DOWN: One of just three teams in the ECHL with only a single regulation loss, the Grizzlies welcome the Fuel for the first half of a six-game homestand at Maverik Center. Utah is coming off of a five-game, two-week road swing that began in Indianapolis back on the first of November, finishing with a 3-1-1-0 record on the trip. The Grizzlies spent the last week in Wichita, where they capped off a three-game sweep of the Thunder with a 6-3 victory on Friday night.