BATMAN BEGINS: Coming off of a difficult southern road trip where they were handed four straight losses, the Indy Fuel travel back to the Midwest where they will take on Central Division opponent Wheeling Nailers on Batman Night. Indy has met the Nailers twice this season, both matchups at WesBanco Arena, dropping both games in last-minute thrillers. Wheeling travels to Indy for the first time having lost three out of their last five games.
DEFENDING GOTHAM: Similar to the Fuel, Wheeling have struggled to find consistency recently, earning points in their past three games but losing three games prior to that. Hosting Indy early in the season, Wheeling holds the season record, winning both matchups 4-3 in the final minute of the game. In five years as a franchise, Indy has split the matchups with Wheeling, earning a 10-10-2-1 record but holds a 5-2-1-0 at Indiana Farmers Coliseum.
THE SUPERHEROES: Wheeling's Jan Drozg currently leads all ECHL rookies in both points and goals as well as sitting sixth in overall league standings having earned 10 goals and eight assists while appearing in all 14 of Wheeling's games. Cam Brown follows behind Drozg playing in all 14 of Wheeling's games and earning six goals and nine assists and a plus-7 rating. Continuing to lead the Fuel in points is Spencer Watson, earning seven goals and nine assists in 14 games with Indy. Watson also leads Indy in points against the Nailers earning two goals and three assists in the two games at WesBanco Arena. Alex Krushelnyski follows behind Watson with 15 points of his own, scoring five goals and tallying 10 assists in 11 games.
TENDING THE BATCAVE: Backstopping the Nailers for 10 out of their 14 games has been Pittsburgh Penguins signing Alex D'Orio. Appearing in 10 games this season, D'Orio has earned a 3.51 goals-against average and a .833 save percentage. Behind D'Orio has been Jordan Ruby, who has appeared in five games, registering a 3.94 goals-against average and a .875 save percentage. Struggling through the two previous games, Indy continues splitting games between Charles Williams and Chase Marchand. Marchand currently leads the two goaltenders with a 2.85 goals-against average but is behind Charles Williams, who has earned himself a .896 save percentage.
FUTURE OF GOTHAM: Indy plays two Central Division opponents on Friday and Saturday before heading to the Northeast for a three-game road trip against Adirondack, Maine and Worcester. After finishing off the Northeast road trip, the Fuel will open December with a Tuesday night matchup against the Cincinnati Cyclones.
-- IndyFuelHockey.com --