FORT WAYNE - The Indy Fuel visited Fort Wayne on Wednesday night to take on their in-state rivals, the Komets, for the first time in 2026. After giving up two goals early in the third frame to tie the game, Sahil Panwar scored a crucial power play goal to take the 3-2 victory.

1ST PERIOD

About six minutes into the first period, Mitchell Weeks made a behind-the-back save after Fort Wayne had a breakaway chance. 

At 7:18, it was the Fuel’s Matt Petgrave who struck first with a backhanded shot in front of the net. Assisted by Nick Grima, this made it 1-0. 

Petgrave also took the game’s first penalty at 8:37 for tripping. Despite the Komets keeping heavy pressure on Fuel goalie Weeks, Indy killed off the penalty. 

Sahil Panwar took the game’s next penalty at 11:20 for slashing, putting the Komets back on the power play. They killed that one off as well.

Nick Grima took a double minor for high sticking next, at 14:24. With 29 seconds left, Fort Wayne’s Lynden McCallum headed to the penalty box for hooking. That penalty was also killed off.

After the first frame, the Fuel were up 1-0 despite being outshot 12-7. 

2ND PERIOD

Fort Wayne went back to the power play after Petgrave took his second penalty of the game. This time he headed to the box for holding at 1:20. It was killed off. 

There was nothing else to add to the game sheet until there were 39 seconds left in the second period, when Tyler Paquette scored to make it 2-0 for the Fuel. Jadon Joseph had the lone assist on that goal. 

The Komets outshot the Fuel, 26-14 through two. 

3RD PERIOD

The Komets opened the scoring on the period at 2:19. Dustyn McFaul scored his first goal of the season to make it 2-1.

At 3:16, the Fuel went back to the power play after a hooking call on Harrison Rees. It was killed off. 

Fort Wayne’s Austin Magera scored at 7:29 to tie the game 2-2. 

Matt Miller took a high sticking penalty at 12:10, putting the Fuel on the power play once again. That penalty was also killed off. 

The Fuel earned a late power play after Fort Wayne’s Dru Krebs took a holding call at 14:41. Komets captain Alex Aleardi joined Krebs in the box after the Komets took a bench minor for too many men on the ice. This gave Indy a lengthy 5-on-3 chance. 

Sahil Panwar capitalized on the power play and gave Indy their lead back, making it 3-2 late in the game. 

With about a minute and a half left, the Komets pulled their goaltender in favor of the extra skater. They took a two-man advantage after Nick Grima took a slashing penalty with 14 seconds to go in regulation. 

They did not have enough time to capitalize though, and the Fuel claimed the 3-2 regulation victory before heading home. 

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The Indy Fuel are the proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Chicago Blackhawks and the American Hockey League’s Rockford IceHogs. The Fuel have returned to Fishers Event Center for their 12th season. Information and tickets can be found HERE.

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