Fuel Battle the Cyclones in a Weekday Matchup

DIVISION BATTLE: After winning two out of three games during their East Coast road swing, the Fuel return to Indiana Farmers Coliseum to face the Cincinnati Cyclones. Indy snapped a seven game winless streak on Friday night, defeating the Maine Mariners 6-0. Coming off an overtime loss to the Fort Wayne Komets, the Cyclones have earned points in five straight games.

THE MATCHUP: Indy has not met the Cyclones since November 23 where they fell 3-2 at Heritage Bank Center. The two teams have met four times this season, splitting the matchups two games apiece. Indy has hosted the Cyclones in three out of the four matchups and will host them in both games this week. Cincinnati enters Indy having won eight out of their last ten games, most recently falling to the Fort Wayne Komets on November 30.

HOME COOKING: The Fuel return home after a three game road trip to the East Coast where they won two out of three games. Through the first 19 games of the season, Indy has only played six home games, earning a 4-2-0-0 record. Winning four out of the six games at home, Indy will play seven out of Indy's next 12 games come at Indiana Farmers Coliseum. The Cyclones enter Tuesday night's matchup earning a 4-4-2-0 record on the road but hold one of the best home records in the ECHL winning nine out ten games at home.

IN THE CREASE: Picking up his first professional shutout and first of the 2019-20 season, Chase Marchand stopped 31 shots against the Mariners on Friday night. Sitting in sixth among rookie goaltenders Marchand has earned a 2.49 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage.Through 19 games the Fuel have split games this season between Charles Williams and Marchand, Williams earning a 3.15 goals-against average and a .892 save percentage. Since being assigned to the Cyclones in early November by the Buffalo Sabres, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has led all ECHL rookie goaltenders with a 1.88 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage. Through nine games in a Cyclones uniform, Luukkonen holds a 6-2-1-0 record.

LOOKING AHEAD: Continuing the trend of weekday matchups, Indy will face the Cyclones again on Thursday before enjoying a rare weekend off. visiting the Kansas City Mavericks on November 10, will play four games in five days next week, three of them coming against Central Division teams.

-- IndyFuelHockey.com --