The Fort Wayne Komets defense made the difference Saturday night at the Fishers Event Center, as the team from up I-69 defeated the Indy Fuel 4-1.

The Fuel outshot Fort Wayne 31-21, but Komets goaltender Samuel Jonsson turned aside 30 of those attempts, allowing just one goal.

Fort Wayne struck first when Blake Murray found the net more than 11 minutes into the opening period. With only seconds remaining in the first, Kirill Tyutyaev added a power-play goal, sending the Komets to the locker room with a 2-0 lead.

The Komets again delivered a late-period blow in the second. With seconds left on the clock, Matt Copponi scored to extend the visitors’ advantage to 3-0 heading into the final frame.

The Fuel broke through less than four minutes into the third period when Terry Broadhurst recorded his sixth goal of the season, cutting the deficit to 3-1.

Any momentum was short-lived. Just over a minute later, Anthony Petruzzelli responded for Fort Wayne, restoring a three-goal cushion at 4-1. That would stand as the final score.

The game featured relatively few penalties. Tempers flared late with some pushing and shoving, but no fighting majors were assessed.

A sellout crowd of 6,587 filled the arena. While many left disappointed, Fort Wayne’s traveling contingent made its presence known throughout the night.

The Fuel wore pink jerseys for the game — whether in recognition of Valentine’s Day, a pink-out honoring Hailey Buzbee, or both — but the alternate look did not translate into a win.

The Fuel now travel to Cincinnati for a 3 p.m. Sunday matchup with the Cincinnati Cyclones.