The Indy Fuel rebounded in their weekend series against the Kalamazoo Wings, securing a  1-0 victory on Saturday night to hand the K-Wings their first loss of the season. A second-period power-play goal by former Kalamazoo player Brandon Saigeon proved to be the difference, while rookie goaltender Ben Gaudreau shined in net, recording his first professional shutout.

The Fuel came out of the gates with a sense of urgency, unleashing an offensive assault in the first period. Indy piled on 22 shots in the opening frame, dominating puck possession and testing K-Wings’ rookie goaltender Ty Young early and often. Young, however, was up to the challenge, stopping all 22 shots to keep the game scoreless. Gaudreau, facing a lighter workload, turned aside all five shots he faced to ensure a tied game heading into the second period.

As the second period unfolded, Kalamazoo’s offense started to build momentum, outshooting the Fuel 12-11 in a more evenly matched frame. Indy finally broke the deadlock at 8:09, capitalizing on a power play after a Kalamazoo hooking penalty. Saigeon netted the Fuel’s first and only goal of the night, with assists from Bryan Lemos and Kevin Lombardi, giving Indy a 1-0 lead and marking their first regulation lead of the season.

The third period brought high drama as Kalamazoo pushed hard for the equalizer. Despite a relatively low shot count, the K-Wings generated dangerous scoring chances, including two goals that were disallowed in critical moments. The most dramatic moment came with just 23 seconds left, as the K-Wings appeared to score with an extra attacker on the ice. However, the goal was waved off, preserving Indy’s slim lead.

The Fuel’s defense and Gaudreau’s composure in net held strong until the final buzzer, sealing the 1-0 victory. Gaudreau’s shutout performance marked a milestone in his young career, helping Indy to a gritty road win.