The Indy Fuel closed out their three-games-in-three-days weekend on a high note, defeating the Cincinnati Cyclones 3-1 on the road to halt a stretch of tough losses.

The game opened with fireworks just six seconds in, as Jesse Tucker and Rhett Parsons dropped the gloves and were each assessed five-minute fighting majors.

The Fuel struck first midway through the opening period. At 11:41, Brandon Schultz capitalized on a breakaway opportunity to give Indy a 1-0 lead. The goal was Schultz’s first with the team this season, with Tucker earning the lone assist. Despite a cross-checking minor assessed to Will Ennis earlier in the period, the Cyclones were unable to convert on the power play. Indy carried a 1-0 advantage into the first intermission, outshooting Cincinnati 13-11.

In the second period, Tucker added to the Fuel lead at 7:21, finishing a play set up by Brett Moravec with a secondary assist credited to Lee Lapid. The goal gave Indy a 2-0 cushion and completed Tucker’s Gordie Howe hat trick — a goal, an assist and a fight — the first by a Fuel player this season.

Cincinnati answered at 9:43 when Ryan Kirwin found the back of the net to cut the deficit to 2-1. The Fuel penalty kill remained strong later in the period after Matt Petgrave was whistled for tripping at 16:42.

Indy regained control in the third. Eric Martin extended the lead to 3-1 at 8:15 with a slapshot, assisted by Tyler Paquette and Petgrave. The Cyclones pulled their goaltender in the final minute, but the Fuel defense held firm to secure the win.

Indy outshot Cincinnati 26-16 in a dominant road performance that provided a strong finish to the demanding weekend.  The Fuel travel to Kalamazoo for a Friday-Saturday set of contests in Michigan this coming weekend.