Sahil Panwar scored a late power-play goal to break a third-period tie and lift the Indy Fuel to a 3–2 victory over the Fort Wayne Komets on Wednesday night, the teams’ first meeting of the 2026 calendar year.

The Fuel built a 2–0 lead before Fort Wayne rallied early in the third period to even the score, but Indy capitalized on a lengthy 5-on-3 advantage late to secure the regulation win.

Indy opened the scoring at 7:18 of the first period when defenseman Matt Petgrave finished a backhanded shot in front of the net. Nick Grima picked up the assist on the goal. Goaltender Mitchell Weeks helped preserve the lead with several early stops, including a behind-the-back save on a Komets breakaway.

The Fuel held a 1–0 advantage after one period despite being outshot 12–7, and they successfully killed multiple Fort Wayne power plays in the opening frame.

After a scoreless second period for most of the frame, Indy doubled its lead with 39 seconds remaining. Tyler Paquette found the net to make it 2–0, with Jadon Joseph recording the assist. Fort Wayne controlled much of the play through two periods, outshooting the Fuel 26–14.

The Komets broke through early in the third period when Dustyn McFaul scored at 2:19 to cut the deficit to 2–1. Fort Wayne tied the game at 7:29 as Austin Magera beat Weeks to make it 2–2.

The decisive moment came late in regulation. After Fort Wayne was assessed two penalties, giving Indy a 5-on-3 power play, Panwar scored to restore the Fuel’s lead at 3–2. Fort Wayne pulled its goaltender for an extra skater in the final minutes and briefly gained a two-man advantage, but the Fuel held on to close out the win.