Indy Opens Weekend with Matchup Against Kalamazoo

SECOND TIME AROUND: Having defeated the Atlanta Gladiators on Saturday, the Fuel turn to three straight games against Central Division teams on Thursday. The last time the two teams met at Indiana Farmers Coliseum, the Fuel defeated the Wings, putting five goals on former Fuel goaltender Jake Hildebrand. With a win on Saturday, Indy will be looking to put together back-to-back wins for the first time since January 11th.

THE MATCHUP: The Fuel will enter Thursday's matchup holding the season record at 2-1-0-0. Through three games against the Wings this season, the Fuel have outscored Kalamazoo 14-11. Having won back to back games agonist the Tulsa Oilers and Kansas City Mavericks, the Wings will be looking for three straight wins on Thursday night.

NEW FACES, NEW PLACES: Joining the team last week through multiple trades, Indy added forwards Mathieu Foget and Ryan Van Stralen to their offensive lineup as well as adding Cliff Watson to the blue line. Foget and Van Stralen would combine for two goals and four assists last weekend, seeing Van Stralen score a goal in each of his first two games. Indy's three new players connected on Friday night with Ryan Van Stralen scoring their only goal of the game in a 2-1 loss to Fort Wayne. Van Stralen's goal would get assists from Mathieu Foget and Cliff Watson, both players playing their first games in a Fuel uniform.

GOALTENDER BATTLE: Splitting last weekend's games with Charles Williams Dan Bakala currently leads the Fuel with a 2.03 goals-against average and a .941 save percentage through seven games in a Fuel uniform. Playing his first game since missing five games, Charles Williams has registered a 2.77 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage through 25 games in a Fuel uniform as well as holding the lead in wins at 14. Playing the majority of the games for the Wings this season, Jake Hildebrand has appeared in 24 games for Kalamazoo. The former Fuel goaltender has registered a 3.69 goals-against average and a .883 save percentage while earning 10 wins this season. Splitting time with Hildebrand this season, Jake Kielly has earned a 3.97 goals-against average and a .886 save percentage through 18 games in a Wings uniform.

LOOKING AHEAD: Closing out the month of January this weekend, the Fuel will play three games in three days against Central Division opponents Kalamazoo Wings, Cincinnati Cyclones and Toledo Walleye. Playing their fourth game in five days on Tuesday, Indy will play three more games next weekend.