Fuel weekly preview: Feb. 23-28

by · February 22, 2016

Home sweet home – briefly. After their longest roadtrip of the year, the Indy Fuel return to the Indiana Farmers Coliseum Tuesday night to face the team with the ECHL’s best record, then head back to the road this weekend for two games in the Buckeye State. That will conclude a February where the Fuel have spent much of their time on the road, and prelude a March that will see Indy play nearly all of its games in the friendly confines of the Indiana Farmers Coliseum.

Record: 26-26-2, 3rd/5 Midwest Division, t8th/14 Western Conference

Last week

  • Wednesday: W 5-3 at Orlando. Brandon Wong 2G/2A, Alex Lavoie 2G, Rhett Bly G, Dylan Clarke 2A. Shane Owen 32sv
  • Thursday: L 2-3 at Orlando. Cody Sharib G/A, Alex Lavoie G, Shane Owen 44sv
  • Saturday: SOW 3-2 at Orlando. Alex Lavoie G/A, Cody Sharib G, Shane Owen 33sv

Of note: In Wednesday’s win, Brandon Wong had the Fuel’s first four-point game since Adam Lapsansky tallied four points Jan. 29 against Evansville. … Rhett Bly leads the Fuel with 14 goals, but four active players have between 12 and 14. … Alex Lavoie had four goals in the three games in Orlando. … Cody Sharib has goals in back-to-back games. … Shane Owen has played in 11 of the Fuel’s last 12 games. … Indy is 3-0 in shootouts after Ben Marshall’s winner gave them a Saturday-night victory. … Marshall leads ECHL rookie defensemen, and is 10th among all active defensemen, in scoring with 26 points. … The Fuel’s .909 save percentage in shootouts is the league’s second-best. Fuel netminders have stopped 10 of 11 attempts this year. Only Missouri (11-of-12) is better. … Don’t expect a lot of trips to the sin bin this week. The Fuel are the league’s least-penalized team. They and their three opponents make up the four least-penalized teams in the ECHL. … The Fuel’s seven-game home winning streak is the second-longest active streak in the league. Toledo (9) is the leader. … Sunday’s game at Toledo will end a string of 10 straight Fuel games against Cincinnati, Missouri and Orlando. … Seven of the Fuel’s 17 games against Eastern Conference teams this season are against Toledo. … Half of the Fuel’s 12 games against the other two Western Conference divisions are against Missouri.

Fuel info

  • Goals for: 2.48 (26th) / Against: 2.63 (8th) / GD: -0.15
  • PP: 13.7% (25th) / PK: 84.5% (13th)
  • Shots for: 30.11 (17th) / Against: 30.20 (15th) / SD: -0.09
  • PIM: 10.02/game (28th)
  • Home: 16-10-0 / Away: 10-16-2
  • OT: 1-2 / SO: 3-0
  • Current streak: W1 / Last 5: 2-3-0 / Last 10: 5-5-0
  • Team leaders
    • Goals: Rhett Bly 14, Alex Lavoie 13, Peter Schneider 13, Cody Sharib 12
    • Assists: Alex Lavoie 27, Ben Marshall 19, Dylan Clarke 16
    • Points: Alex Lavoie 13-27-40, Rhett Bly 14-13-27, Peter Schneider 13-13-26, Ben Marshall 7-19-26, Dylan Clarke 8-16-24, Cody Sharib 12-11-23
    • PIM: Dylan Clarke 81, Zach Miskovic 45
    • +/-:  Nick Petrecki +7, Cody Sharib +6, Michael Colantone +6
    • PPG: Rhett Bly 6, Dylan Clarke 5
    • Goaltenders: Shane Owen 13-18-0, 2.50, .917; Keegan Asmundson 0-1-0, 3.08, .880

This week’s schedule
Tuesday: vs. Missouri Mavericks (41-7-3), 7:05 p.m., Indiana Farmers Coliseum. TV: HTSN-6.2; Radio: WXNT-1430

  • Fuel vs. Mavericks: 0-5-0 (0-0-0 at Indy). Last of 6 meetings
  • Series meetings: 11/27 @MO: L 2-4; 11/28 @MO: L 2-4; 2/12 @MO: L 3-4; 2/13 @MO: L 4-5; 2/14 @MO: L 2-3
  • Of note: Jesse Root is third (25-29-54) and Tyler Barnes (19-32-51) is tied for fifth in the league in scoring. Root also leads the league in goals and is second in game-winners (7). … Root and Bryce Aneloski (+27) and Barnes (+25) hold down the ECHL’s 2-4 spots in +/-. … Goaltender Josh Robinson (25-0-1) was the league’s second-leading goaltender in terms of GAA (1.85) and save percentage (.928), but he was called up to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers last week. … Former Fuel player Reed Seckel plays for Missouri. He has 15 points in 27 games for the Mavericks.
  • Mavericks info
    • Goals for: 3.45 (1st) / Against: 2.12 (1st) / GD: +1.33
    • PP: 17.3% (12th) / PK: 86.7% (5th)
    • Shots for: 28.86 (23rd) / Against: 26.71 (2nd) / SD: +2.15
    • PIM: 10.82/game (26th)
    • Away: 17-4-3
    • OT: 5-2 / SO: 2-1
    • Current streak: L1 / Last 10: 7-2-1
    • NHL/AHL affiliates: New York Islanders/Bridgeport Sound Tigers
  • Team leaders
    • Goals: Jesse Root 25, Tyler Barnes 19, Andrew Courtney 15
    • Assists: Tyler Barnes 32, Jesse Root 29, Rocco Carzo 28
    • Points: Jesse Root 25-29-54, Tyler Barnes 19-32-51, Rocco Carzo 12-28-40, Andrew Courtney 15-12-27 Sebastien Sylvestre 14-13-27
    • PIM: Anrew Courtney 54, C.J. Ludwig 48
    • +/-: Jesse Root +27, Bryce Aneloski +27
    • PPG: Andrew Courtney 9, Jesse Root 6
    • Goaltenders: Parker Milner 13-3-0, 1.81, .933; Steven Summerhays 0-1-0, 1.03, .960

Saturday: at Cincinnati Cyclones (26-20-5), 7:35 p.m., U.S. Bank Arena. Radio: WXNT-1430

  • Fuel vs. Cyclones: 3-2-0 (2-2-0 at Cincinnati). 6th of 11 meetings (next: 3/5 at Indy).
  • Series meetings: 11/20 @CIN: W 2-1; 12/29 @CIN: W 5-1; 1/27 @CIN: L 1-3; 2/5 @CIN: L 3-4; 2/6 @Indy: W 2-1
  • Of note: Nick Huard (12) leads the ECHL in power play goals, and is third in power play points (19). He is seventh among all rookies in scoring (16-23-39).
  • Cyclones info
    • Goals for: 2.96 (14th) / Against: 2.88 (14th) / GD: +.08
    • PP: 18.1% (9th) / PK: 79.4% (26th)
    • Shots for: 29.29 (22nd) / Against: 29.75 (13th) / SD: -0.46
    • PIM: 11.37/game (25th)
    • Home: 17-5-3
    • OT: 4-3 / SO: 2-2
    • Current streak: W1 / Last 10: 7-3-0
    • NHL/AHL affiliates: Nashville Predators/Milwaukee Admirals
  • Team leaders
    • Goals: Jack Downing 25, Zach Budish 20, Nick Huard 16
    • Assists: Zach budish 24, Nick Huard 23, Jack Downing 17
    • Points: Zach Budish 20-24-44, Jack Downing 25-17-42, Nick Huard 16-23-39, Garrett Noonan 5-23-28, Brandon Gracel 10-15-25
    • PIM: Seth Ambroz 80, Garrett Noonan 43
    • +/-:  Joe Wilson +15,  Zach Budish +10
    • PPG: Nick Huard 12, Jack Downing 8
    • Goaltenders: Brandon Whitney 9-8-1, 3.24, .888; Andy Iles 8-5-0, 2.66, .909

Sunday: at Toledo Walleye (32-14-5), 5:15 p.m., Huntington Bank Arena. Radio: WXNT-1430

  • Fuel vs. Walleye: 1-4-0 (0-1-0 at Toledo). 6th of 7 meetings (next: 3/17 at Indy)
  • Series meetings: 10/16 @Indy: SOW 3-2; 12/3 @Indy: L 2-4; 12/4 @Indy: L 2-5; 12/16 @TOL: L 1-5; 12/20 @Indy: L 3-4
  • Of note: Old friend Shane Berschbach (20-31-51) is fifth in the ECHL in scoring. … A.J. Jerks (185) leads the ECHL in shots on goal. … Goaltender Jeff Lerg is second among active goaltenders in GAA (2.10) and save percentage (.927) and is third in wins (21).
  • Walleye info
    • Goals for: 3.04 (8th) / Against: 2.61 (7th) / GD: +0.43
    • PP: 20.1% (3rd) / PK: 81.0% (20th)
    • Shots for: 29.41 (21st) / Against: 29.65 (12th) / SD: -0.24
    • PIM: 10.41/game (27th)
    • Home: 19-5-1
    • OT: 1-2 / SO: 5-3
    • Current streak: W2 / Last 10: 6-3-1
    • NHL/AHL affiliates: Detroit Red Wings/Grand Rapids Griffins
  • Team leaders
    • Goals: Shane Berschbach 20, A.J. Jenks 18, Tyler Sikura 10
    • Assists: Shane Berschbach 31, A.J. Jenks 22, Ralfs Freibergs 20
    • Points: Shane Berschbach 20-31-51, A.J. Jenks 18-22-40, Tyler Sikura 10-19-29, Ralfs Freibergs 2-20-22, Josh Shalla 10-10-20
    • PIM: Ralfs Freibergs 45, A.J. Jenks 44
    • +/-:  Ralfs Freibergs +16, Andrew Prochno +12
    • PPG: Shane Berschbach 7, A.J. Jenks 6
    • Goaltenders: Jeff Lerg 21-6-3, 2.10, .927; Jake Paterson 10-8-2, 2.41, .919

Current roster

Forwards (12)

  • Rhett Bly (5-10, 185, Regina, Sask.). Age: 27. Shoots: L. 2014-15 team: Indy Fuel (ECHL)
  • (R/RFD) Daniel Ciampini (5-11, 185, Concord, Ont.). Age: 25. Shoots: L. 2014-15 team: Union (NCAA)
  • Dylan Clarke (6-2, 174, Belleville, Ont.). Age: 29. Shoots: L. 2014-15 team: Rapid City Rush (ECHL)
  • (R) Michael Colantone (5-11, 190, Brooklyn, NY). Age: 25. Shoots: R. 2015-16 team: UMass-Lowell (NCAA)
  • Andrew Johnston (6-1, 191, Saskatoon, Sask.). Age: 24. Shoots: L. 2015-16 team: Reading Royals (ECHL)
  • (V) Adam Lapsansky (6-0, 196, Spisska Nova Ves, Slovakia). Age: 25. Shoots: L. 2015-16 team: HC Kosice (Slovakia)
  • Alex Lavoie (5-10, 170, Anjou, Que.). Age: 22. Shoots: R. 2014-15 team: Florida Everblades (ECHL)
  • (R) Peter Schneider (5-11, 191, Vienna, Austria). Age: 24. Shoots: R. 2014-15 team: Notre Dame (NCAA)/Indy Fuel (ECHL).
  • (R) Cody Sharib (6-2, 220, Needham, Mass.). Age: 25. Shoots: L. 2014-15 team: Connecticut (NCAA)
  • (R) Casey Thrush (6-1, 185, Olney, Md.). Age: 23. Shoots: L. 2015-16 team: Allen Americans/South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL)
  • Matt White (6-2, 196, McMurray, Pa.). Age: 25. Shoots: L. 2014-15 team: Indy Fuel (ECHL)
  • (V) Brandon Wong (5-11, 190, Victoria, BC). Age: 29. Shoots: L. 2015-16 team: Tulsa Oilers (ECHL)

Defensemen (8)

  • (R) Trevor Campbell (5-10, 192, Kansas City, Mo.). Age: 25. Shoots: R. 2014-15 team: Alaska-Fairbanks (NCAA)/Bakersfield Condors (ECHL)
  • Anders Franzon (6-3, 196, Plattsburgh, NY). Age: 26. Shoots: R. 2014-15 team: Indy Fuel (ECHL)
  • (R/RFD) Sam Jardine (6-1, 205, Lacombe, Alb.). Age: 22. Shoots: L. 2014-15 team: Ohio State (NCAA)
  • (R) Patrick Koudys (6-3, 210, Smithville, Ont.). Age: 22. Shoots: L. 2014-15 team: Penn State (NCAA)
  • (R) Ben Marshall (5-9, 179, Mahtomedi, Minn). Age: 23. Shoots: L. 2014-15 team: Minnesota (NCAA)
  • (R/RFD) Nick Mattson (6-1, 179, Chanhassen, Minn.). Age: 24. Shoots: L. 2014-15 team: North Dakota (NCAA)
  • (V) Zach Miskovic (6-0, 183, River Forest, Ill.). Age: 30. Shoots: R. 2014-15 team: Rockford IceHogs (AHL)
  • (V) Nick Petrecki (6-3, 230, Schenectady, NY). Age: 26. Shoots: L. 2015-16 team: Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)/Elmira Jackals (ECHL)

Goaltenders (2)

  • Keegan Asmundson (6-5, 234, Inver Grove Heights, Minn.). Age: 25. Catches: L. 2015-16 team: Evansville IceMen (ECHL)/Pensacola Ice Flyers (SPHL)
  • Shane Owen (6-2, 195, Markham, Ont.). Age: 25. Catches: L. 2014-15 team: Indy Fuel (ECHL)

21-day IR (2)

  • (CHI) Dillon Fournier (6-2, 181, Dorval, Que.). Age: 21. Shoots: L. 2014-15 team: Indy Fuel (ECHL)/Rockford IceHogs (AHL)
  • (V) Josh Brittain (6-5, 226, Milton, Ont.), Age: 26. Shoots: L. 2014-15 team: Kalamazoo Wings/Missouri Mavericks/Ontario Reign (ECHL)

In AHL (1)

  • (RFD) Mac Carruth (6-3, 182, Jackson, Wyo.). Age: 23. Catches: L. 2014-15 team: Indy Fuel (ECHL)/Rockford IceHogs (AHL)

R-Rookie, V-Veteran, RFD-Under contract to AHL Rockford IceHogs. CHI-Under contract to NHL Chicago Blackhawks

Roster moves: The Fuel claimed F Casey Thrush off waivers from South Carolina. Thrush began the season in the Fuel’s training camp. On Monday, Rockford assigned Ciampini and D Nick Mattson to Indy.

Looking ahead: The Fuel return home next weekend, welcoming Utah March 4 and following with a March 5 game against Cincinnati, beginning a stretch where eight of 10 games will be played in the Indiana Farmers Coliseum.

Follow: