The Indy Fuel earned their first victory of the 2025–26 season Thursday night, grinding out a 2–1 road win over the Cincinnati Cyclones in a physical, penalty-filled matchup at Heritage Bank Center.
Both teams spent much of the opening period feeling each other out, and scoring chances were limited. The Fuel were forced to kill off an early penalty when Kevin Lombardi was called for interference at the 6:30 mark, but the Indy penalty killers stood tall. Cincinnati found momentum late in the frame, firing seven unanswered shots to close the period with a 9–3 advantage, yet Indy goaltender Owen Flores kept the game scoreless after one.
The second period brought a noticeable shift in intensity — and the scoreboard. Tempers sparked less than two minutes in after Flores made a save in traffic, but no penalties were called. Soon after, Cincinnati’s Marko Sikic went off for slashing, giving Indy a power play they couldn’t convert.
Momentum finally swung in the Fuel’s favor midway through the period. Brett Moravec broke the deadlock at 9:23, finishing a partial breakaway for a 1–0 lead with assists from Jacob LeGuerrier — playing in his first pro game in two years — and Dylan McLaughlin. LeGuerrier made his return even more memorable moments later, burying a backhand shot at 12:43 to stretch Indy’s lead to 2–0.
Physical play continued to escalate as tensions boiled over multiple times. Jesse Tucker and Rhett Parsons dropped the gloves at 14:35 for the game’s first fight, each earning five-minute majors. As the second period ended, another scrap broke out between Indy’s Christian Berger and Cincinnati’s Nick Rhéaume, who also received an extra two minutes for instigating. Berger and Rhéaume served their penalties to open the third.
Cincinnati pushed hard in the final frame, but Indy’s defense and penalty kill remained sharp. Chris Cameron picked up his first penalty of the season at 4:56, but the Fuel again killed it off. Indy had a chance to ice the game midway through the period on a Cyclones slashing minor, but failed to extend the lead.
The Cyclones appeared to get on the board at 17:26, but the goal was wiped out due to a holding-the-stick call. With time running out, Cincinnati pulled goaltender Talyn Boyko while shorthanded to skate 5-on-5, and the gamble paid off. John Jaworski scored at 18:42 to cut the Fuel lead to 2–1, injecting late drama into the contest.
Indy weathered the final push, and after offsetting roughing minors with 13 seconds left, held firm to secure the win.
The Fuel now head to Toledo for a match Saturday night with the Walleye and a road date with the Kalamazoo Wings the next day. The Fuel return home Wednesday, November 5, for a game with the Bloomington Bison. The Fuel are 1-2 in this young season.