Indy Meets Rapid City In Second Game in Two Days

FIRST TIME HOST: Coming off of a 4-2 loss to the Florida Everblades on Thursday night, the Indy Fuel turn their sights to the Mountain Division's 4th place team in the Rapid City Rush on Friday. Friday night's game will be Rapid City's first game of the weekend, although they met the Wichita Thunder on Wednesday, winning by a score of 8-2.

THE MATCHUP: The Fuel has played five games against Mountain Division teams this season, putting together a 4-1-0-0 record. Rapid City has played six games against Central Division teams Wheeling Nailers and Cincinnati Cyclones. Putting together a 1-5-0-0 record against Central Division teams, the Rush's only win came against the Cincinnati Cyclones on January 10. The Fuel have only met the Rush once in the past five years, most recently hosting them in 2016-17 and winning by a score of 2-0.

TEAM LEADERS: With Spencer Watson spending his time with the American Hockey League's Rockford IceHogs forward Bobby MacIntyre has had to pick up where Watson left off. The third-year pro has earned eight goals and 22 assists in 37 games with the Fuel this season. MacIntyre is also the only player to appear in all 37 games for Indy during the 2019-20 season. Leading the Rush with 15 goals and 13 assists through 35 games, Tyler Coulter has averaged just under a point per game this season.

GOALTENDER BATTLE: Appearing in the last two games for the Fuel, Dan Bakala has earned a 2.13 goals-against average and a .940 save percentage through four total games. Bakala signed with Indy on New Years Day and has since earned two wins in three starts in the ECHL. Splitting time with Bakala, Charles Williams has registered a 2.84 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage through 24 games in a Fuel uniform. Appearing in the last three games for the Rush, Alex Sakellaropoulos has amassed a 3.55 goals-against average and a .896 save percentage through 14 game this season. Splitting the season with Sakellaropoulos, Tyler Parks has appeared in 21 games, putting together a 2.91 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage this season.

LOOKING AHEAD: After opening three games in three days on Thursday against the Florida Everblades, Rapid City Rush and Wheeling Nailers, the Fuel will not play until January 24 and 25 after the 2020 ECHL All-Star Classic. Indy will close out the month of January with three games in three days against Central Division opponents Kalamazoo Wings, Cincinnati Cyclones and Toledo Walleye.