INDIANAPOLIS - Playing their first game out of three this week, the Fuel hosted their I-69 rival Fort Wayne Komets on Wednesday night. Indy would go into the third period leading 3-2 thanks to goals from Matt Marcinew, Michael Pelech and Matt Thomas but it wouldn’t be enough after the Komets came back in the third to defeat Indy 6-3.
After the teams traded shots throughout the first half of the period, the Fuel would eventually take the 1-0 lead when Matt Marcinew got alone behind the Komets defense and beat Dylan Ferguson through the five-hole. Responding almost immediately while on the power play, Fort Wayne’s Brandon Hawkins walked down the side and beat Dan Bakala over the glove with a wrist shot.
The Komets would be the first team to get on the board in the second period when Brandon Hawkins jumped on a rebound and put the puck past Bakala. The Fuel would respond :23 seconds later when Michael Pelech buried a rebound on Ferguson to make it 2-2. Picking up a Fort Wayne turnover in the neutral zone, Indy’s Jared Thomas gave the Fuel the 3-2 lead heading into the locker room when he put the puck over the shoulder of Dylan Ferguson.
The Komets would control the majority of play through the first six minutes of the game, outshooting the Fuel 7-0. Scoring his third goal of the game, Brandon Hawkins would streak past the Indy defense and fire the puck over the shoulder of Bakala to tie the game 3-3.
The Komets would take the lead 1:17 later when Morgan Adams-Moisan fired a wrist shot past Bakala on an odd-man rush. Late in the game, Brandon Hawkins stepped off the boards and beat Bakala with a quick wrist shot to give the Komets a 5-3 lead. Anthony Nellis would put home the empty netter to make the score 6-3 and send the Komets home with the win.
The Fuel will look to bounce back on Friday when they host the Wheeling Nailers on Friday night. Visiting the Coliseum for the first time this year, the Jacksonville Icemen will take on the Fuel on Saturday night in their only matchup of the season.
Single-Game tickets are now available for Fuel seventh season at Indiana Farmers Coliseum! Fans can also take advantage of full season, 18 ticket and 12 ticket flex packages by calling 317-925-FUEL or visiting IndyFuelHockey.com. Don't miss a second of the action during the 2019-20 season - follow the Fuel on Twitter and Instagram (@IndyFuel) and ‘Like' the Fuel on Facebook.
-- INDYFUELHOCKEY.COM --
Adirondack Thunder
Allen Americans
Atlanta Gladiators
Bloomington Bison
Cincinnati Cyclones
Florida Everblades
Fort Wayne Komets
Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Idaho Steelheads
Indy Fuel
Iowa Heartlanders
Jacksonville Icemen
Kalamazoo Wings
Kansas City Mavericks
Maine Mariners
Norfolk Admirals
Orlando Solar Bears
Rapid City Rush
Reading Royals
Savannah Ghost Pirates
South Carolina Stingrays
Tahoe Knight Monsters
Toledo Walleye
Trois-Rivières Lions
Tulsa Oilers
Utah Grizzlies
Wheeling Nailers
Wichita Thunder
Worcester Railers