The Indy Fuel returned to the ice on the road Wednesday night after a brief hiatus caused by a player strike, but came up just short in their first game back, falling 4-3 in overtime to the Cincinnati Cyclones on New Year’s Eve.

The Fuel and Cyclones, division rivals in the ECHL’s Central Division, were tied 3-3 at the end of regulation before Cincinnati’s Ryan Kirwan scored the game-winning goal at 2:57 of overtime on a 4-on-3 power play.

Cincinnati opened the scoring late in the first period after Indy killed off an early slashing penalty to newcomer Mike Van Unen. Gunnarwolfe Fontaine put the Cyclones ahead 1-0, a lead they carried into the first intermission. Cincinnati outshot Indy 11-7 in the opening frame.

The Cyclones doubled their lead just 12 seconds into the second period when John Jaworski scored a shorthanded goal, making it 2-0. Indy responded quickly, as Owen Robinson scored less than three minutes later to cut the deficit in half. Lee Lapid and Matt Petgrave assisted on the goal.

The Fuel continued to build momentum midway through the period. Lapid tied the game at 2-2 at 12:25, with Eric Martin and Jadon Joseph earning assists. Indy then took its first lead of the night when Cody Laskosky scored to make it 3-2, assisted by Christian Berger and Chris Cameron.

Indy controlled much of the second period, outshooting Cincinnati 18-7 and holding a 25-18 edge in shots through two periods.

The third period featured several special teams opportunities for both sides, including a lengthy 5-on-3 power play for Cincinnati, but neither team was able to score until late. With just 1:11 remaining in regulation, Cyclones veteran Justin Vaive scored to tie the game at 3-3 and force overtime.

In the extra session, a boarding penalty to Indy’s Sahil Panwar gave Cincinnati a power play. After a timeout, the Cyclones maintained possession and Kirwan netted the decisive goal.

Indy outshot Cincinnati 35-29 in the loss.