REINVENT THE WHEEL: After losing their second game in two days to the Kansas City Mavericks the Fuel play their third game in three days against the Wheeling Nailers. The Fuel have struggled against the Nailers this season losing all three previous matchups as well as giving up a late goal in all three games. The Nailers enter Sunday afternoon game having lost their previous two games to Central Division opponents in the Toledo Walleye in the Kalamazoo Wings.
THE MATCHUP: The Nailers come into to Sunday's game holding the final playoff spot in the Central Division just two points ahead of the Indy Fuel. Although entering Sunday's game having lost their two previous games against the Kalamazoo Wings and the Kansas City Mavericks, the Fuel have won six out of the last 10 games. Indy has met the Nailers three times this season, losing all three games by one goal each.
TEAM LEADERS: Leading the Fuel with 16 goals and 17 assists, Spencer Watson missed his first game of the season on Sunday. The third-year forward leads the Fuel in power-play points, putting up six goals and eight assists. Following behind Watson, Bobby MacIntyre, has earned seven goals, 17 assists and a plus-one rating. MacIntyre is the only player on the Fuel to appear in all 29 games this season. Tied for the team lead with 22 points each, Cam Brown and Yushiroh Hirano have earned seven goals and 15 assists over 29 games with the Nailers.
NETMINDERS: The Fuel have enlisted Charles Williams through 19 games this season, helping him to 10 wins and two shutouts. Through the 19 games in a Fuel uniform, Williams has earned a 2.84 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage. Jordon Ruby and rookie Alex D'Orio have split time with the Nailers this season, Ruby appearing in 12 gamed and D'Orio playing 14 of his own. Through 12 games in a Wheeling uniform, Ruby has earned a 3.19 goals-against average and a .897 save percentage while D'Orio has registered a 3.63 goals-against average and a .883 save percentage.
LOOKING AHEAD: Indy closes out three games in three days on Sunday afternoon before heading to Kalamazoo for a New Years matchup with the Wings on Tuesday night. The Fuel will return home on Thursday and Friday to host the Cincinnati Cyclones and Fort Wayne Komets and will head to Toledo on Saturday for their seventh game in nine days.