An open net goal, after the Indy Fuel pulled goaltender Ben Gaudreau with 42 seconds left in the game, cemented an Iowa Heartlander 4-2 win Sunday afternoon, before a Fishers Event Center crowd of 6,003.

The first period did not start well for the home team, with Iowa’s Jack O’Brien and Kelti Jeri-Leon finding the back of the net.  That created a 2-0 lead for the Heartlanders.

The second stanza saw the Fuel roar back with goals from Kyle Maksimovich and Nathan Burke, tying the scoreboard at 2-2.

The deciding score came only seconds into the third period with a power play goal from Iowa’s Kyle Masters, due to a Fuel penalty that carried over from the second period.

There was plenty of contact and effort from both teams, even though this was the third game in three days for each team.  Iowa has been battling with Fort Wayne for second place in the Central Division.  The Fuel have been working to stay in the fourth place slot in the Central Division, the final playoff spot.

There are plenty of games left on the schedule so it is early but the Fuel are in the mix for that final divisional playoff position.

The Fuel return home Friday to face our intrastate rival, the Fort Wayne Komets. The puck drops at 7pm.