Jason Pawloski saw action for just the third time this season. Pawloski was off to a shaky start to the season coming into their game against the Beast. The rookie netminder was 0-2 with a 6.00 goals-against-average and a .778 save percentage.

Austin Lotz got the start in net for the Beast. The Winnipeg, Manitoba native entered with a 1-6-1 record alongside a 3.92 goals-against average and a .886 save percentage. Those eight games were split evenly between the Reading Royals and the Beast.

FUEL STARTING LINEUP

Olivier Labelle-Mathew Thompson-Kevin Dufour

Robert Powers-Dmitry Osipov

Jason Pawloski

Just 54 seconds in, Alex Brooks found the back of the net for the Fuel for his third of the season. Brooks’ shot went off Lotz’s pad and deflected in to give Indy the early lead. The assists on the goal were credited to Quentin Shore and Josh Shalla.

With 1:45 left in the opening frame, former Fuel forward Anthony Beauregard buried his sixth of the season on a cross-crease pass from Francois Beauchemin. Beuaregard’s late goal tied the game at one.

After a quiet second period, the Beast exploded with four goals in the third period. The Canadian club got two goals from Nathan Todd and one each from Matt Petgrave and Austin McEneny.

Mathew Thompson got one back for the Fuel with 1:18 remaining in the game. That made the defeat look a little less embarrassing at 5-2.

Quotebook

Fuel head coach Bernie John on Pawloski’s performance: “He was fine. He doesn’t get to play a lot and he’s just been buying his time. For the time being, what he’s been doing, he’s been doing fine. We’ll evaluate everybody, but he’s okay. He’s just got to make sure to keep practicing hard the way he does and keep doing the things he has to do and keep himself ready. It’s hard when you’re not playing to do that and just really practicing. Sometimes we’ve had three goalies here when [Kevin] Lankinen’s down and stuff like that. It’s a tough process for a goaltender but that’s the way this league is.”

By The Numbers

8 – Number of losses for the Fuel against Brampton all-time. That also happens to be the number of meetings the two teams have had.

1 – Number of games left for the Fuel in 2018. They face the Kalamazoo Wings on New Year’s Eve at Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

The post RECAP: Beast Score Four in Third Period, Rout Fuel 5-2 appeared first on The Rink.

Team Statistics:

Power Play
Indy (15.2%, 19th)
Brampton (15.4%, 18th)

Penalty Kill
Indy (83.2%, 16^th)
Brampton (82.8%, 20^th)

Shots For/Against Per Game
Indy (24.79, 26^th – 32.79, 17^th)
Brampton (33.74, 5^th – 32.97, 18^th)

Shooting%
Indy (12.2%, 2^nd)
Brampton (9.3%, 19^th)

Avg. Height/Weight
Indy – 6’1”, 195 lbs
Brampton – 6’0”, 193 lbs

Analysis:

The Indy Fuel are coming off a couple of huge 5-2 wins over division rivals, including the ECHL-leading Cincinnati Cyclones.

Ryan Rupert struck twine twice for Indy in the third period to seal the three-goal victory. That was the fifth straight game in which the Fuel had scored five goals.

This is the first meeting between these two clubs this year. They have met seven times before and the Fuel have failed to win any of them, going 0-6-1-0.

The Beast are on a cold stretch right now, losing their last six games in regulation. Their most recent loss came at the hands of the Toledo Walleye at Huntington Center in Ohio. They attempted a comeback in the final period but came up short in a 7-4 loss.

Beast goaltender Jake Paterson was called up to the AHL’s Belleville Senators two days ago. Paterson went 4-9-1 with a 3.52 goals-against-average and an .896 save percentage.

Players To Watch

Indy: Olivier Labelle

Labelle is due for a breakout game. The 33-year-old has been the Fuel’s gritty goal-scorer all year but hasn’t had the show-stealing type game. I think he’s going to be very physical against Brampton and he’s going to try to knock their offensive-style game off-center. His veteran presence is going to be very crucial as Brampton is a very experienced team. With Zach Miskovic out, it is up to Labelle to rally the team against a very skilled Beast team.

Brampton: David Pacan

Pacan has been a thorn in many ECHL team’s sides over the years. He is doing it once again this year, with 16 goals and 15 assists in 31 games. The improved Fuel defense should have their hands full with Brampton’s offensive firepower, including Pacan and Brandon Marino. Pacan has scored twice in his last five games.

The post PREVIEW: Indy Fuel vs. Brampton Beast appeared first on The Rink.