The Indy Fuel concluded a grueling week with a Sunday afternoon road matchup against the Iowa Heartlanders, falling 2-1 after a tightly contested game marked by a dramatic third period and a valiant late effort.

First Period:
The opening frame started sluggishly, with both teams managing just three shots apiece through the early minutes. The deadlock broke at 10:51 when Iowa’s Ryan Miotto capitalized off a faceoff, giving the Heartlanders a 1-0 lead.

The Fuel had a chance to respond shortly after when Iowa’s Dakota Raabe was called for cross-checking, but Iowa’s penalty kill stifled the opportunity. Late-period penalties were a recurring theme, as Indy’s Colin Bilek served consecutive minors, but the Fuel’s penalty kill unit held firm. A too-many-men penalty against Indy at 19:33 carried over into the second period, with shots tied at 9-9.

Second Period:
The intensity ramped up in the middle frame, highlighted by a spirited fight between Chris Cameron of the Fuel and Nico Blachman of the Heartlanders.

Midway through the period, Iowa struck again—this time shorthanded. Yuki Miura capitalized on a Fuel turnover during a penalty kill, doubling the Heartlanders’ lead to 2-0. Indy found life at 14:42 when Kevin Lombardi broke the shutout with a snapshot set up by Cam Hausinger and Kyle Maksimovich.

Despite outshooting Iowa 18-15 through two periods, the Fuel faced a tough challenge heading into the final frame.

Third Period:
The final 20 minutes showcased the Heartlanders’ resilience and the Fuel’s determination. Early in the period, Indy found themselves on the penalty kill again after a Ty Farmer slashing call. Goaltender Ben Gaudreau delivered a strong performance to keep his team within reach, turning aside numerous quality chances from Iowa.

The tension peaked at 15:51 when Blachman received a game misconduct for inciting, leaving the Fuel shorthanded once more. Iowa’s Will Calverley then took a late roughing penalty, granting Indy a power play and a final chance to tie the game.

With Gaudreau pulled for an extra attacker, the Fuel applied heavy pressure in the closing minutes. Despite their efforts, the Heartlanders held on for a narrow 2-1 victory, fueled by strong defense and timely goaltending.

Key Takeaways:

• Star of the Game: Yuki Miura’s shorthanded goal proved to be the game-winner in a tightly contested affair.
• Standout Performance: Ben Gaudreau’s steady presence in net gave Indy a chance to mount a comeback, stopping 23 of 25 shots.
• What’s Next: The Fuel will regroup and look to bounce back as they return to the Fishers Event Center for a midweek clash against the Toledo Walleye.