The Indy Fuel closed out their three-in-three weekend on the road Sunday in Toledo, where a strong start wasn’t enough to hold off a late Walleye surge in a 3–2 defeat.

Indy struck first despite sustained early pressure from Toledo. The Walleye controlled the opening minutes, but at 4:51 Sahil Panwar converted the Fuel’s first shot of the night, firing a top-right snipe off a feed from Cody Laskosky. Panwar later drew the game’s first penalty at 18:01 for high-sticking. Tempers flared in the final minutes of the period, but no further penalties were issued.

Goaltender Mitchell Weeks kept the Fuel in front through the first intermission, turning away all 12 Toledo shots. The Walleye outshot Indy 12–3 in the opening frame.

Panwar began the second period in the penalty box, finishing the remainder of his minor. Indy went to the power play just seconds into the period when Toledo’s Brandon Hawkins was called for tripping, but the Fuel were unable to extend their lead. The Walleye evened the score at 6:53 when Jordan Ernst buried Toledo’s first goal, assisted by defenseman Jed Pietila.

The game tightened again entering the third period, but penalties played a pivotal role in the final outcome. Just 17 seconds into the period, Hawkins took his second minor of the night, this time for delay of game. A series of calls midway through the frame created a 4-on-3 advantage for Toledo after penalties to Jesse Tucker and Pietila, followed by a tripping call on Indy’s Harrison Israels at 12:16.

The Walleye capitalized. Hawkins scored on the power play at 13:29 to tie the game. Forty-four seconds later, Will Hillman struck, giving Toledo its first lead.

The Fuel pulled Weeks with a minute remaining and used a timeout with 38.9 seconds left to plan a final push, but Indy couldn’t beat Toledo goaltender Jan Bednář with the extra skater.

The loss dropped Indy to 1–2 on the weekend. The Fuel return home later this week as they continue their December slate.