The Indy Fuel dropped their first meeting of the season with the Wheeling Nailers on Wednesday night, falling 5–2 on the road, despite a pair of power-play goals from forward Harrison Israels.

Wheeling struck quickly, scoring just 53 seconds into the game when Brent Johnson converted on the first shot of the night. The Nailers doubled their lead seven minutes later on a goal by Jack Works.

Indy cut the deficit midway through the period after Wheeling’s Tommy Budnick was called for cross-checking. The Fuel capitalized on the power play as Israels scored at 10:26, with assists from Sahil Panwar and Matt Petgrave. Wheeling took a too-many-men penalty late in the period, but the Fuel were unable to convert before intermission.

The Nailers killed off the remaining seconds of that penalty to open the second period, and the teams traded infractions over a stretch that included roughing minors for Indy’s Nick Grima and Wheeling’s Logan Pietila. Indy kept Wheeling off the board through multiple power-play chances, including kills following penalties to Petgrave and Will Ennis.

With less than two minutes left in the period, Indy went back on the power play when Mike Posma was called for holding. Israels struck again, tying the game 2–2 at 18:38 with his second power-play marker of the night. Panwar and Petgrave again recorded the assists. Through two periods, the teams were nearly even in shots, with Wheeling holding a 22–21 edge.

Wheeling regained control early in the third. Randy Hernández scored at 2:09 to put the Nailers back in front. After another Indy penalty, Wheeling extended the lead when Max Graham tallied at 10:26 to make it 4–2.

Tempers flared moments later as Indy’s Michael Marchesan and Wheeling’s Posma dropped the gloves, each receiving five-minute fighting majors.

Wheeling sealed the win at 16:54 on a goal from David Breazeale. The Fuel pulled goaltender Mitchell Weeks during a late power play, but could not close the gap. A potential empty-net goal by the Nailers after time expired was waived off.

The Fuel outshot the Nailers 31–30 but came up short, falling to Wheeling 5–2.

The Fuel return home Friday night facing Fort Wayne and Saturday against Toledo.