GOING FOR TWO: After defeating the Kalamazoo Wings 5-4 in overtime on Friday night, the Indy Fuel travels to Allen County War Memorial Coliseum to visit the Fort Wayne Komets on Saturday. The Fuel have met the Komets seven times this season, putting together a record of 2-4-0-1, most recently falling 5-4 in a Tuesday morning matchup at Indiana Farmers Coliseum.
THE MATCHUP: In seven matchups this season, Indy has struggled to put together consistent wins against the Komets. With their most recent win against the Komets coming on February 9th, Indy has only won one game at Fort Wayne this season, with Spencer Watson scoring in overtime on December 20th. Fort Wayne enters Saturday's matchup having lost 5-1 to the Toledo Walleye on Friday night. The Komets snapped their three-game losing streak on February 9th at Indy and have since won four out of their last six games.
GOALS LEADERS: Although only skating in five out of the seven games against the Komets, Alex Krushelnyski leads the team with one goal and six assists in five games. The veteran forward has registered 11 goals and 19 assists through 29 games in a Fuel uniform. Sitting atop the Fuel points board, Spencer Watson has tallied 28 goals and 26 assists this season. Skating in all seven games against the Komets this year, Watson has scored five goals and one assist, including the overtime winner on December 20th. Appearing in 40 games with the Komets this season, Brady Shaw has scored 20 goals and 32 assists. Shaw is tied with Brett McKenzie for the team lead in points against Indy, earning 2 goals and six assists in five games.
SPECIAL TEAMS BATTLE: Entering Saturday, Indy sits in fourth place in the ECHL in power-play percentage, scoring on 21.2% of their chances this season. Ahead of them, Fort Wayne is in second place in the league, registering a goal on 25% of their man advantages. Scoring a shorthanded goal on Friday night, Indy has only three shorthanded goals this season. Through 53 games, the Fuel sits in 18th in the ECHL in penalty killing, killing off 79.9% of their penalties, while Fort Wayne sits two spots below Indy in 20th, killing off 79.6% of their penalties this season.
LOOKING AHEAD: Closing out back-to-back Central Division games on Saturday night against Fort Wayne, Indy returns home to Indiana Farmers Coliseum on Friday, January 28th and 29th for back to back home games for Players Weekend. Fans will have the chance to meet Blackhawks legend Dave Bolland and bid on game-worn alternate uniforms featuring player nicknames.
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