The Indy Fuel (17-14-0-0) battled the Kalamazoo Wings (15-16-0-1) in Kalamazoo for the final game of their 2018 campaign in a matinée matchup.
Matt Tomkins was back in the starter’s net Monday after resting in Saturday’s 5-2 loss to the Brampton Beast. Tomkins entered the matchup with a 12-9-0 record with a 3.21 goals-against-average and a .904 save percentage.
At the other end, former Fuel goaltender Jake Hildebrand backstopped the Wings club. Hildebrand had an 8-12-0 record along side a 3.66 goals-against-average and an .885 save percentage.
FUEL STARTING LINEUP
Matt Rupert-Ryan Rupert-Logan Nelson
Alex Brooks-Neil Manning
Matt Tomkins
Kalamazoo got the scoring started first, as Chris Collins sniped Matt Tomkins from a sharp angle for his 13th of the season.
Logan Nelson tied it for Indy as he snapped the puck past Hildebrand from the slot on the power play for his fourth of the season.
Reid Gardiner’s red-hot play scorched the Fuel as the defenseman collected his 15th goal of the season 12:08 into the opening frame.
The second period was where the Fuel’s engine started to rev. Josh Shalla scored his 12th of the season for Indy’s second power play goal of the afternoon.
The next three Indy goals came in less than five minutes, as Ryan Rupert, Matt Rupert and Avery Peterson all found the back of the net.
Ryan Rupert’s ninth of the season came on a feed from the corner by Josh Shalla, where he one-timed it past Hildebrand in the slot.
Matt Rupert was also unchecked in front of the net and was found by his brother Ryan less than four minutes later.
Avery Peterson picked up a rebound in front of the Kalamazoo net and buried his first professional goal to give the Fuel a 5-2 lead.
Tyler Biggs attempted to spark a late Kalamazoo comeback in the third period with a fight, but Dmitry Osipov was able to take him down.
Six minutes after the fight, Matt Rupert sealed the Fuel victory on a breakaway pass from his brother for his second goal of the night and Ryan Rupert’s fourth point.
To finish 2018, Avery Peterson squared up with Wings defenseman Ben Wilson and struck Wilson with an uppercut that dropped him to the ice.
By The Numbers
2 – Number of power play goals for the Fuel
4 – Number of points for Ryan Rupert in the afternoon
1 – Peterson scored his first professional goal and engaged in his first professional fight