The Indy Fuel opened the 2026 Kelly Cup Playoffs on the road Friday night, but a strong defensive effort by the Fort Wayne Komets resulted in a 3-0 shutout loss for Indy in Game 1 of the opening-round series.

The matchup marked the first playoff meeting between pro hockey teams from the two cities since 1991.

Despite the loss, Indy controlled much of the early pace. The Fuel outshot Fort Wayne 12-8 in the first period, but a late shorthanded goal proved costly. After the Komets’ Matt Copponi went to the box for roughing late in the period, Fort Wayne’s Brady Stonehouse broke through with a shorthanded tally at 19:39 to give the home team a 1-0 lead.

The opening period ended with tensions rising, as players from both sides exchanged shoves after the final whistle before officials restored order.

Indy continued to generate chances in the second period and maintained a narrow edge in shots, but penalties disrupted any sustained momentum. The Fuel successfully killed off multiple Fort Wayne power plays, including an early bench minor assessed to backup goaltender Owen Flores for interference. Additional penalties to captain Chris Cameron and Austin Magera were also erased by the penalty-kill unit.

Through two periods, the Fuel held a 21-19 advantage in shots but still trailed 1-0.

Fort Wayne added insurance early in the third period when Matthew Brown scored at the 4:28 mark to extend the Komets’ lead to 2-0. Indy pushed for a response but could not solve the Fort Wayne defense or goaltending.

A late unsportsmanlike conduct penalty to Indy’s Matt Petgrave gave the Komets another power-play opportunity, and while the Fuel penalty kill held, Fort Wayne later sealed the outcome with a third goal to complete the shutout.

Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is set for Saturday night in Fort Wayne before the series shifts to the Fishers Event Center for Games 3 and 4 next week.

The Fuel will look to convert their shot advantage into scoring as they attempt to even the series before returning home.