Fuel take on Nailers in first of two games in Wheeling

THE MATCHUP: The Indy Fuel (2-0-0-0) embark on their second road trip of the season after winning both games on the road last weekend in Wichita and Kansas City. This is the first 2-0 start since the 2016-17 season when the Fuel beat Cincinnati 3-1 and 2-1 in the opening two games. The Fuel travel to Wheeling to take on the Nailers (0-2-0-0) for a pair of games Saturday October 19, 2019 and Sunday October 20, 2019. Last year, the Fuel played the Nailers eleven times, visiting nine, and finished 5-4-2. This is the first game for the Nailers at home while the Fuel open at home October 25 and 26.

BEGINNERS LUCK: Rookie Karl El-Mir notched a hat trick on Saturday in his first professional game. El-Mir's hat trick last Saturday was the the first for the Fuel since Ryan Rupert on March 24, 2019 vs. Cincinnati and was the 13th hat trick in Fuel history.

NAILERS LOOK AHEAD: The Nailers look to play their first game at home after suffering two losses on the road in Cincinnati and Fort Wayne. Yushiroh Hirano, Brandon Hawkins and Myles Powell are all tied for leading points on the team each with one goal and two assists.

STAT PADDERS: Spencer Watson and Mathew Thompson tallied two goals each Friday at Wichita. Alex Krushelnyski had a three-point game with three assists. While Bobby MacInyre (1g,2a) and Graham Knott (3a) had three point games Saturday in addition to El-Mir's hat trick. The four power play goals for the Fuel in Saturday's win at Kansas City tied a team record for most power play goals in a game (December 15, 2014 vs. Florida and February 22, 2018 vs. Quad City). Keoni Texeira had a goal and an assist, both on the power play vs. Kansas City. He led ECHL defensemen with 31 power play points last season.

GOAL TENDING MATCHUP: Chase Marchand was in the net for Indy last Saturday against the Mavericks with 28 saves on 30 shots (2.00, 1-0-0-0, .933). In the Fuel's last game at Wheeling, Marchand earned his first professional victory with 39 saves in a 5-4 shootout on April 6, 2019. The Nailers had Alex D'Orio (6.02, 0-2-0-0, .836) in the net to start the game last night in Fort Wayne, with 23 saves on 30 shots, while Jordan Ruby finished the game with 9 saves on 9 shots.