Injuries and player call-ups to the American Hockey League took a heavy toll on the Indy Fuel throughout the 2025-2026 season, forcing younger and less experienced players into key roles down the stretch. That group managed to push the team into the playoffs in the final days of the regular season, but the uphill climb proved too steep in the postseason.

The Fuel’s season came to an end Sunday night with a 4-0 loss to the Fort Wayne Komets in Game 5 of their opening-round series in the Kelly Cup Playoffs. The Komets take the best-of-seven series four games to one and advance to the next round.

Facing elimination on the road, Indy showed early signs of life despite falling behind. After earning the game’s first power play midway through the opening period, the Fuel generated pressure and outshot Fort Wayne 12-6 in the first 20 minutes. But it was the Komets who capitalized, with Logan Nelson scoring late in the period to give the home team a 1-0 lead.

The Fuel appeared poised to respond early in the second period with a carryover power play, but a penalty just 32 seconds into the frame wiped out the opportunity. Both teams traded chances the rest of the period, and after 40 minutes the shots were even at 19-19, with Fort Wayne still holding a one-goal advantage.

The game turned quickly in the third period.

Komets captain Alex Aleardi extended the lead to 2-0 just five minutes into the final frame. Less than three minutes later, William Dufour added another goal to make it 3-0. A flurry of penalties followed, including a brief stretch of four-on-four play and multiple roughing calls, as tempers flared between the division rivals.

Fort Wayne added a power play goal by Matt Miller during the sequence to push the margin to 4-0, effectively putting the game out of reach.

The physical play escalated late, highlighted by a line brawl that resulted in several penalties and misconducts on both sides. Despite continuing to press offensively, the Fuel could not solve the Komets’ defense and goaltending down the stretch.

Indy finished with a slight edge in shots, 29-28, but could not find the back of the net.

With the win, Fort Wayne advances to likely face the Toledo Walleye in the next round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs.  As of this writing, Toledo has a 3-0 game lead in their series with the Bloomington Bison.

For the Fuel, the loss closes a season defined by adversity — one in which roster disruptions forced a younger lineup to grow quickly and ultimately fight its way into the postseason.