Indy Fuel (19-16-1-0) at Wheeling Nailers (17-16-2-0)
7:05 PM Eastern
WesBanco Arena
Watch Live: ECHL.TV
Team Statistics:
Power Play
Indy (16.5%, 14th)
Wheeling (20.9%, 4th)
Penalty Kill
Indy (85.2%, 7th)
Wheeling (83.2%, 15th)
Shots For/Against Per Game
Indy (28.19, 26th – 32.58, 17th)
Wheeling (32.34, 10th – 28.60 – 5th)
Shooting%
Indy (11.6%, 4th)
Wheeling (10.9%, 7th)
Avg. Height/Weight
Indy – 6’1”, 195 lbs
Wheeling – 6’1”, 194 lbs `
Analysis:
The Indy Fuel are traveling to Wheeling following a 3-2 overtime loss in a bloodbath match against the Fort Wayne Komets.
Zach Miskovic was sucker punched multiple times by Komets forward Justin Hodgman and had to be taken off for eight stitches to his forehead. Radovan Bondra was also sucker punched at the bottom of a doggy pile by Komets forward Taylor Crunk.
Crunk was suspended four games and fined, along with Hodgman, who was also fined an undisclosed amount.
The Wheeling Nailers are coming off a 3-0 loss to the Utah Grizzlies at WesBanco Arena the night prior. Don’t sleep on this team though. In their last divisional game against the powerhouse Toledo Walleye, the Nailers beat the Walleye at Huntington Center in Toledo 8-2.
The Fuel are 3-2 this season against the Nailers. In Indy’s last game against Wheeling on Jan. 4, they defeated the Nailers 3-2 at Indiana Farmers Coliseum. Fuel defenseman Alex Brooks recorded a goal and an assist, while Ryan Rupert tallied two assists.
Wheeling’s leading point scorer against the Fuel, Nick Saracino, is still in the AHL with the Binghamton Devils. Saracino has recorded three goals and four assists in three games against Indy this season.
Players To Watch
Indy: Alex Brooks
The defenseman is Indy’s leading point scorer against the Nailers this year, with three goals and three assists in five games this season against Wheeling. Brooks was paired with Robert Powers last night against the Komets, amidst a depleted Indy defensive corp.
Wheeling: Renars Krastenbergs
This rookie has had a great season, thus far. Krastenbergs has five points in four games against Indy, and 21 points in 28 games overall, this season. We’ll see if Brooks and the Indy defense can stop this Wheeling offense.