FISHERS- The Indy Fuel hosted the Wheeling Nailers on Saturday night in the middle game of a three-in-three weekend. After tying the game 2-2 in the second period, the Fuel ultimately lost 5-2 to the Nailers. 

1ST PERIOD

Wheeling’s captain Justin Taylor and Indy’s Lachlan Getz took offsetting penalties at 7:53 for interference and holding respectively. This forced some 4-on-4 time. It was Wheeling’s Mike Posma who struck first at 9:33 to put the Nailers up 1-0 while playing 4-on-4. 

Taylor added his second point of the game when he scored at 13:21 to put the Nailers up 2-0. 

The Fuel earned the first power play of the game when Wheeling’s Ian Amsbaugh was called for slashing at 17:25. The Nailers killed that off just before time expired in the period. 

After one frame, Indy was outshot by Wheeling 13-7. 

2ND PERIOD

Cody Laskosky scored at 1:35 to cut the Nailers’ lead in half. Ashton Cumby earned his first professional point with the primary assist on that goal. Kyler Kupka had the secondary assist. 

At 2:07, Scott Cremen took a tripping penalty. This put Indy on the power play again and quickly Laskosky scored his second goal of the period and game to tie it up 2-2. Kupka and Mitchell Hoelscher claimed the assists on that power play goal. 

Dustin Manz took a hooking call at 5:28 to give Wheeling their first power play chance of the game but it was killed off. 

At 7:26, Indy earned another power play opportunity when Dante Sherriff took a holding penalty. As soon as that was killed off, Cremen earned a delay of game penalty. This put the Fuel right back on the power play. That penalty was killed.

After a lengthy pause due to a player injury with just under four minutes remaining in the second period, these teams returned to play.

Posma scored his second goal of the night to put the Nailers up 3-2 at 18:03. Less than a minute later, Jackson DeSouza took a minor penalty for another delay of game. 

Wheeling’s Robby Drazner capitalized on the power play with a goal to extend the Nailers’ lead to 4-2 with just 32 seconds left in the frame. 

Both teams broke out into a few lengthy fights and extracurricular activities after the end of the period but no penalties were assessed until they returned to the ice for the third period. 

Indy outshot the Nailers 11-5 in the second frame, bringing the game total to 18-18 at that point. 

3RD PERIOD

Craig Armstrong took a delay of game penalty at 2:24. While Indy put a lot of pressure on, the penalty was killed off. 

At 8:49 Brandon Yeamans took a delayed tripping penalty but Lane Brockhoff was also sent to the penalty box for goaltender interference after checking Kasimir Kaskisuo, Wheeling’s goalie after he played the puck to cue the whistle. 

With just under three minutes to go in regulation, Indy pulled Thomas Gale from goal in favor of the extra skater. It was Wheeling who scored next, however. Armstrong tacked on an empty net goal to give Wheeling a 5-2 lead. 

That is how the game would end after a few more looks from both teams. The Nailers won 5-2 despite being outshot 29-22 by the Fuel.

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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 13th season. Information and tickets can be found HERE.

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