Indy Begins Road Trip Facing the Komets

BACK TO THE FORT: Opening up three road games in three days against Central Division opponents, the Indy Fuel will head up I-69 to face rival Fort Wayne Komets. The Fuel have won five straight games entering Friday night, including four in a row against Central Division opponents. Fort Wayne comes into Friday's game having played the Kalamazoo Wings on February 12, defeating them 3-2 in overtime.

THE MATCHUP: The Fuel have struggled at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum over the past five years, putting together a 6-11-3-0 record. This season, Indy has split the matchups with the Komets, falling 5-3 in the first matchup between the two and winning the second game in overtime. After earning all eight possible points last week, The Fuel currently sit three points ahead of the Komets in the Central Division for 3rd place.

STATS LEADERS: Skating in three out of the five matchups between the two teams, Alex Krushelnyski leads the Fuel with one goal, five assists and a plus-5 rating. The veteran forward has appeared in 24 games for the Fuel this season, earning 10 goals and 17 assists. Scoring four goals in five games against the Komets this season, Spencer Watson leads the ECHL in goals, tallying 25 goals in 42 games this year. Appearing in only three games against the Fuel, Brady Shaw leads the Komets in points, earning one goal and five assists. The forward has earned 17 goals and 30 assists this season, leading the Komets in points.

NETMINDERS: Sharing the net with Dan Bakala, Charles Williams has earned 17-8-1-0 record this season through 28 games. The third-year goaltender has amassed a 2.68 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage through 28 games in a Fuel uniform as well as earning wins in his last five starts. Appearing in 11 games since joining the team on New Year's Day, Dan Bakala has earned a 5-3-1-1 record. The 32-year-old goaltender has earned a 2.41 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage through 11 games with the Fuel. Appearing in three games against the Fuel this season, Cole Kehler has earned a 1-1-1-0 record and a 3.19 goals-against average. Skating in 24 games with the Komets this season, Kehler has amassed a 2.93 goals-against average and a.905 save percentage.

LOOKING AHEAD: With three straight games on the road, the Fuel will play back to back games against the Cincinnati Cyclones after Friday's game in Fort Wayne. Indy will return to Indiana Farmers Coliseum on Tuesday, February 18th for a 10:30am Education Day Game. After playing two games on the road on February 21st and 22nd, the Fuel will play two games at Indiana Farmers Coliseum as part of the ECHL's Player's Weekend. Fans will have the chance to meet Blackhawks legend Dave Bolland on February 29th and bid on game-worn jerseys with player's nicknames.

--IndyFuelHockey.com--