FUEL DEFEAT THE NAILERS FOR THE 10TH TIME

INDIANAPOLIS - In their third and final game of the week, the Fuel hosted the Wheeling Nailers on Sunday afternoon. The Fuel would score a goal in each period and see Diego Cuglitta score twice on their way to a 3-1 win over the Nailers. 

Tasked with killing off a 5-on-3 early in the first period, Indy’s defense was back on their heels early. After killing off the long penalty, the Fuel got a power play of their own. Streaking down the sideboards, Mathew Thompson fed Michael Pelech a pass and he tapped it past Wheeling goaltender Alex D’Orio. The Fuel would kill off another 5-on-3 penalty and Dan Bakala would stop nine shots to send Indy into the locker room leading 1-0 after 20 minutes. 

It would take just under five minutes for the Fuel to score their second goal of the game when Diego Cuglietta buried a centering pass from Mathew Thompson. Indy’s Dan Bakala would fight off 17 Wheeling shots through the remainder of the second period but would eventually hold on to send the Fuel into the locker room with a 2-0 lead.

Wheeling would be the first team to score in the third period when Patrick Watling threw a puck on net from the point and Michael Joly jumped on the rebound and put the puck past Bakala. Both teams would trade chances through the remainder of the final period but both goaltenders would weather the storm. Diego Cuglietta would be given an automatic empty-net goal after a Wheeling defenseman threw their stick to try to stop Indy from scoring. 

Various ticket options are now on sale for the Fuel’s 7th season at Indiana Farmers Coliseum! Lock up your seat for every second of the action at Indiana Farmers Coliseum with a Fuel Ticket Plan – grab yours by heading to IndyFuelHockey.com or by calling the Fuel front office at 317-925-FUEL. Don’t forget to follow the Fuel on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (IndyFuel) for news, updates, contests and much more throughout the 2020-21 season. 

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