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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The Wheeling Nailers had things going their way during a five-game winning streak, but Friday night a couple of breaks went against them, and the game turned sour against the Indy Fuel.
Christian Hilbrich recorded the lone marker of the night for Wheeling, which closed within two in the late stages of the second period. However, the Fuel got the upper hand, following with three tallies in the third period to pick up a 6-1 victory at Indiana Farmers Coliseum.
The first period was played evenly, as the Nailers outshot the Fuel, 10-9, while both teams received one power play. The difference on the scoreboard came in the form of an Indy goal off of a face-off at the 7:44 mark. Patrick D'Amico won the left-circle draw off the wall to Chris Williams at the left point. Williams stepped in with a low wrist shot, putting it through traffic and into the net.
Indy added to its lead quickly in the middle frame. Drew Schiestel slid a pass across the offensive blueline, leading Anthony Beauregard in on the right side. Beauregard made his way to the circle, roofing a shot just underneath the crossbar.
The Fuel turned on the red light for a third time at the 15:18 mark of the second period. Marek Tvrdon set up D'Amico, who had his shot stopped, but Evan Mosey followed up the attempt, sweeping the rebound through Doug Carr's legs.
Wheeling got on the scoreboard with a power-play tally in the closing minutes of the period. Michael Webster took a shot from the right-wing wall, which was stopped. However, the rebound came out to Hilbrich, who potted his first professional marker.
The Nailers thought they cut their deficit to one with a power-play goal in the early stages of the third period, but incidental contact with the goaltender wiped the score off of the board. Indy benefitted from that scenario, and proceeded to turn the game completely in its favor.
Tvrdon buried a pass off of a transition rush from D'Amico at the 11:03 mark, then lit the lamp again 3:11 later, when Alex Wideman hit him with a pass after twirling behind the net. Wideman capped the scoring in the 6-1 final by lifting a shot into the top-right corner from the left circle.
Reigning ECHL Goaltender of the Week Jake Hildebrand got the win for Indy, making 29 saves on 30 shots. Carr took the loss for Wheeling, surrendering six goals on 30 shots.
The Nailers will continue their road trip with a pair of games against the Quad City Mallards at 8 tonight and at 5 on Sunday. Wheeling's next home game takes place at 7:05 p.m. on Nov. 26 against Greenville.