CINCINNATI– The Fuel headed to Cincinnati for a two game set this weekend to face off with the Cyclones in the preseason. Despite a strong second period where the Fuel outshot their opponent, they ultimately fell to Cincy 5-1 in the first preseason game.
1ST PERIOD
The first period started slowly, both teams still finding their footing in their first game back since last season. The first goal came at 8:14 of the first period by Cincinnati’s Louie Caporusso assisted by their captain Justin Vaive, the pair not missing a beat from last season.
Just twenty seconds later, Cincy’s Matt Cairns took the game’s first penalty for interference giving the Fuel a chance on the power play however they could not capitalize on it.
The Cyclones got a power play of their own after the Fuel took a face-off violation about halfway through the period. They were able to net their first power play goal to make it 2-0. This time the goal scorer was Vaive, getting his second point of the night.
Time expired on the period nine minutes after that and both teams headed to the locker rooms with Cincy up 2-0 and up eight shots to six.
2ND PERIOD
One minute into the second frame, Indy’s Sam Ruffin took a tripping penalty giving Cincinnati a power play. The Fuel were able to kill off the penalty successfully.
About halfway through the second period, the Vaive line struck again. This time it was Zack Andrusiak scoring with Caporusso and Vaive collecting assists, for Vaive his third point of the night.
It was Indy who got on the board next, just over a minute later with a goal by Andrew Bellant assisted by a pair of defensemen in Trevor Zins and Luke McInnis.
A few minutes later, it appeared that Cincinnati had scored again but it was called no goal and the score remained 3-1 as time expired on the second period.
During the second frame, Indy surpassed the Cyclones in shots for a total of 20-17.
3RD PERIOD
Things seemed to settle down in the beginning of the third period until Colton Kalezic scored for the Cyclones at 6:28 to make it 4-1.
Kalezic added on another goal to make it 5-1 just six minutes later while the Cyclones were shorthanded due to a tripping penalty taken by Mekar. That is how the game ended but not without some extracurriculars brewing between the division rivals in the last minute of the game.
The Fuel will look to split the preseason set with Cincinnati tomorrow night at 7:35 p.m. at Heritage Bank Center.
The Indy Fuel are back in action at Indiana Farmers Coliseum on October 20, 2023 for Opening Night against the Fort Wayne Komets.
Originally posted on indyfuelhockey.com