Entering the weekend, the Indy Fuel were on the outside looking in of the playoff picture. After sweeping a two-game series with the Toledo Walleye, the Fuel looked to capitalize on a three-game homestand.
Game 1 — Thursday, Jan. 16: Indy Fuel 2, Florida Everblades 4
In their first matchup, the Indy welcomed in an unfamiliar foe in the Florida Everblades. This was the second time the Fuel hosted the Everblades in Indianapolis. Indy opened the game with a goal from Connor McDonald. McDonald rocketed his shot past Florida Goalie Ken Appleby. This was McDonald’s first pro goal.
🎵🚨OLD McDONALD GOT HIS FIRST PRO GOAL🚨🎵
G-O-A-L pic.twitter.com/XQ4oslCZDz
— Indy Fuel (@IndyFuel) January 17, 2020
The Fuel are 18–6–1 when scoring first, however, Thursday’s game would be one of the six losses when scoring first. The Everblades would pour it on the Fuel scoring three goals of their own in the first period. The mountain of goals were too much for the Fuel to overcome and they fell to the Everblades 4–2. This was the only meeting between the Fuel and Everblades this season.
Game 2 — Friday, Jan. 17: Indy Fuel 3, Rapid City Rush 5
The first period of this game was madness, it’s punches and counter punches started the first period. Jack Ramsey started the scoring by snapping a wrister past Rapid City Goal Tender, Gordon Defiel. The lead would be short-lived as Tyler Coulter counter with a blazing wrist shot past Dan Bakala.
The Fuel got two goals from Jake Schultz to tie the game but, sadly, the Rush jumped on the Fuel quickly.
🚨SCHULTZY HAS DONE IT AGAIN🚨
TIE GAME YET AGAIN pic.twitter.com/kVaXp6rFfk
— Indy Fuel (@IndyFuel) January 18, 2020
Rapid City would pull away for good with a slap shot goal from Stephane Legault. The fate of his game was all but decided when Tanner Karty of Rapid City dumped in an empty netter. The final score was 5–3 in favor of Rapid City.
Game 3 — Saturday, Jan. 18: Indy Fuel 4, Wheeling Nailers 1
The weekend three-game homestand ended a positive note for the Fuel. After dropping the first two games in a disappointing fashion, The Fuel finally got back into the business of winning. Indy would score late in the first period and never relinquish that lead.
On Blackhawks night, the Coliseum was electric with United Center style energy and Liam Coughlin made sure to amp up the crowd. Coughlin dangled into the Wheeling zone and finished with style.
🚨🎶CHELSEA DAGGER ON BLACKHAWKS NIGHT🎶🚨
Yup. It just feels right.
We are up 1-0 thanks to Liam Coughlin! pic.twitter.com/LOXUpJxaPV— Indy Fuel (@IndyFuel) January 18, 2020
The party that started with Jim Cornelson’s anthem would not end until the Indy Fuel tacked on three more goals to win by a final of 4–1. The Fuel got goals from Craig Wyszomirski, Christian Horn, and Bobby MacIntyre in addition to Coughlin. After the victory, the Fuel are still on the outside looking in of the playoff picture.
Fuel dump:
- Bobby MacIntrye has appeared in every Fuel game this season at 39. He holds the longest current point streak at three games.
- Christian Horn scored his first goal in an Indy Fuel uniform on Saturday.
- Connor McDonald scored his first professional goal on Friday night. McDonald signed with the Fuel earlier this month.