The Indy Fuel got their second straight victory of their five game home stand with a wild 8-7 victory against the Quad City Mallards on Thursday Night. The victory boosted them up to fifth in the central division as their quest for a playoff spot continues.
The Fuel overcame a three goal deficit that Quad City tallied in the first five minutes of the first period. Newly acquired defenseman Jaynen Rissling started the scoring first for the Fuel when he scored on a nice slapshot that found its way into the net. Forward Darian Dziurzynski had the assist. Dziurzynski was voted the first star of the game as he added four points, two goals, and two assists to help the Fuel. Rissling was voted the 3rd star of the game with 3 points, adding two assists to his one goal.
The Fuel added another tally in the first when forward Matt Rupert notched his 12th goal of the season. But Quad City fought back when Alex Globke scored on a breakaway goal on Fuel goaltender Matt Tomkins.
To start the second period, the scoring went back and forth with the Fuel and Quad City trading goals. After Quad City forward Tristan King scored, Fuel goalie Matt Tomkins was pulled in favor of their 2018 all-star backstop Etienne Marcoux. Marcoux then held off Quad City’s onslaught.
Defenseman Zach Miskovic started the late second period scoring flurry, and turned the game around when he scored a great goal on a two-on-one breakaway that was started by forward Josh Shalla forcing a turnover in the neutral zone. Shalla himself would have a big game in the Fuel win by adding four assists. Less than 30 seconds later, the Fuel tied
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the game at 6 when Darren Dziurzynski put the puck in on a nice feed from captain Michael Neal.
Later in the second, the Fuel went on a five minute power play when Quad City forward Triston Grant was called for a boarding major and a game misconduct.. Forward Alex Wideman and defenseman Robin Press scored for the Fuel during the five minute powerplay. And Press’ goal ended up being the game winner.
Quad City defenseman Jake Bolton scored in the closing stages of the third period, but it was too little too late. The Fuel will be back in action on Friday night when they will play Quad City at 7:23 at Farmer’s Coliseum. They also play Quad City again on Saturday night in this best of three series weekend stretch.
