SOLAR BEARS STYMIE THE FUEL WITH LATE GAME WINNER

INDIANAPOLIS - Beginning a three-game series on Friday night, the Indy Fuel hosted the Orlando Solar Bears at Indiana Farmers Coliseum. Throughout the game, both teams would trade goals before a deflected shot by Orlando’s JJ Piccinich in the third period handed the Solar Bears the game-winning goal. Orlando would net an empty netter with a second remaining to take the 5-3 win.

Controlling the majority of the play, Orlando took the 1-0 when Michael Joly streaked down the side and beat Dan Bakala with a wrist shot. The Solar Bears would double their lead when Tristin Langan jumped on a Fuel turnover and backhanded a shot on net to beat Bakala. Earning a power play late in the period, Indy’s Michael Pelech deflected a puck thrown on net by Matt Marcinew to cut the Orlando lead in half. 

Taking advantage of an early power play in the second period, Terry Broadhurst buried a tic-tac-toe play from Matt Marcinew and Nic Pierog. Orlando would take the lead again later when Aaron Luchuk deflected a point shot from Mark Auk. With one minute remaining in the period, Nick Hutchison deflected a wrist shot from Ryan Zuhlsdorf to send the team into the locker rooms tied 3-3. 

Outshooting the Solar Bears through the first half of the period, Indy was unable to break the 3-3 tie. It would take until the final minutes for anybody to break the tie when Orlando took advantage of a Fuel slashing penalty. Mark Auk threw a puck on net that was deflected by JJ Piccinich to take the 4-3 lead. Indy would pull their goalie in an attempt to score in the final minute and Kyle Topping put home the empty-net goal with one second remaining in the game to give the Solar Bears a 5-3 win. 

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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