The Indy Fuel host their first game of the 2020-21 season taking on the Kansas City Mavericks at Indiana Farmers Coliseum. The Fuel have won three out of their last four opening night games heading into Friday’s game against Kansas City.
TIME: 7:00 p.m. ET
TV/Stream: FloSports
TEAM RECORDS
IND: 0-0-0-0, 0 PTS
KC: 0-0-0-0, 0 PTS
LAST TIME OUT
The last time the two teams met was on December 28 when Kansas City routed the Fuel 4-0 at Indiana Farmers Coliseum. After a multiple hour delay due to ice issues, the Fuel were unable to put any pucks past Kansas City goaltender Tyler Parsons through 60 minutes.
Despite four power-play chances in the second period, Indy was unable to beat Parsons, putting up several shots throughout the man advantages. After being outshot 16-9 by the Fuel in the first period, Kansas City responded in the second, outshooting the Fuel 14-12 and heading into the locker room with a 2-0 lead. The Mavericks would eventually double that lead with two goals in the third period.
CORE POWER
The Fuel are no strangers to returning players for multiple seasons but this season is different. This season, Doug Christiansen returned 11 players from the 2019-20 roster as well as creating depth within the offensive unit by signing proven players such as Derek Barach, Antoine Waked and Seamus Malone. Combined, the Fuel offensive unit skated in 127 American Hockey League games during the 2019-20 season. With the addition of these experienced players, the Fuel expects to see last year’s offensive production improve.
BAK IN THE NET
Appearing in four of the final six games of the season, Dan Bakala earned two shutouts in the process. The experienced goaltender started 17 games for the Fuel last season, putting together a 7-6-1-2 record and earned a 2.43 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage. No stranger big games, Bakala will take the reigns on Friday looking to earn the Fuel their first win of the season and send them to Wheeling hoping for back-to-back wins.
ROAD WARRIORS
Playing four out of their next five games on the road, the Fuel will look to improve their 13-15-1-0 away record from last season. With three out of the next five games being played at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, the Fuel expect to change their fortunes from last season where they struggled against the Nailers, putting together a record of 2-3-1-0.
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