CYCLONE WARNING: Falling 5-3 to the Fort Wayne Komets on Friday night, the Fuel continues their three-game road trip with the first of back-to-back games against the Cincinnati Cyclones at Heritage Bank Arena. Indy enters Saturday night having only lost one game in the month of February while Cincinnati has lost five straight games, though earning points in two of those losses.
THE MATCHUP: Putting together a record of 5-3-1-0 against the Cyclones this season, the Fuel have been unable to earn a win at Heritage Bank Arena, most recently falling 4-3 in overtime on January 31st. Losing three out of the last four matchups with Indy, the Cyclones will be looking to hold on to home-ice advantage where they have been dominant this season.
STATS LEADERS: Combining for six total points on Friday night, Spencer Watson, Derian Plouffe and Bobby MacIntyre sit atop the Fuel points leader board. Skating in all nine games against the Cyclones, Spencer Watson has earned three goals and four assists. Putting up 26 goals this season, Spencer Watson leads the ECHL in goals through 43 games in a Fuel uniform. Tallying seven points in nine games against the Fuel this season, Ben Johnson sits in second on the Cyclones in points. Ahead of him in the points race, Jesse Schultz has earned 20 goals and 28 assists through 50 games in a Cyclones uniform.
NETMINDERS: Stopping 41 of 45 shots from the Komets on Friday night, Dan Bakala has skated in 12 games for the Fuel this season, earning a 2.56 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage. Appearing in five of the matchups between Indy and Cincinnati, Charles Williams has earned four wins and a .950 save percentage. The third-year goaltender has played in 28 games for the Fuel this season, earning a 2.68 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage. Starting in 19 games for the Cyclones Michael Houser has amassed a 2.48 goals-against average and a .897 save percentage. Since the Cyclones lost Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to an AHL call-up, Houser has split time with Jamie Phillips who has earned a 4.44 goals-against average and a .843 save percentage.
LOOKING AHEAD: Starting on Saturday night, Fuel will play back to back games against the Cincinnati Cyclones to finish out a three-game road trip. Indy will return to Indiana Farmers Coliseum on Tuesday, February 18th for a 10:30am Education Day Game.
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