The Indy Fuel staged a furious third-period comeback Saturday night, but an early deficit proved too much to overcome as the Cincinnati Cyclones handed the Fuel a 4-3 loss at the Fishers Event Center.

Playing their second game in as many nights, the Fuel faced a Cincinnati team making its 2026-27 regular-season debut with a substantially rebuilt roster. The Cyclones, the ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs, entered the season with nine players assigned by the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies.

The infusion of talent was evident early as Cincinnati controlled much of the opening period, taking advantage of two Indy turnovers to build a 2-0 lead.

The game was less than two minutes old when Indy’s Jesse Tucker and Cincinnati’s Kurtis Henry dropped their gloves, exchanging punches before both were assessed five-minute fighting majors.

Cincinnati struck first just over five minutes into the opening period when Matt Anderson scored, assisted by Ryan Kirwan and Sahil Panwar.

Panwar, a former Fuel player, added to his old team’s troubles by scoring with less than a minute remaining in the period, giving the Cyclones a 2-0 advantage after 20 minutes.

The Fuel managed to kill off two Cincinnati power plays in the opening period, but the turnovers proved costly.

Indy began showing signs of life less than two minutes into the second period when Cody Laskosky scored, with assists from Owen Robinson and Mitchell Hoelscher, cutting Cincinnati’s lead to 2-1.

The physical play continued midway through the period when a confrontation erupted near the Fuel bench. Robinson and Hoelscher were assessed roughing penalties, along with Cincinnati’s Matt Copponi.

The resulting penalty situation gave the Cyclones another power-play opportunity, and Cincinnati capitalized. Jackson Kunz scored, assisted by Anderson and Adam Kydd, restoring the visitors’ two-goal advantage.

The Cyclones received another power play late in the period, while the Fuel went through the first 40 minutes without a single opportunity with the man advantage.

Cincinnati carried a 3-1 lead into the second intermission.

The third period began much like the first two, with Indy spending more time killing penalties than enjoying a manpower advantage.

Less than five minutes into the period, Tommy Budnick was called for holding, giving Cincinnati its fifth power play of the evening. The Fuel successfully killed the penalty.

Shortly afterward, Indy finally received its first power-play opportunity when Cincinnati’s Jackson Kunz was whistled for interference. The Fuel failed to capitalize.

Another chance came midway through the period when Cincinnati’s Max Smolinski was penalized for elbowing. Again, the Fuel came away empty.

But with approximately six minutes remaining, the momentum began to shift.

Laskosky scored his second goal of the night, assisted by Lachlan Getz and Chase Dafoe, pulling Indy within one goal at 3-2 and bringing renewed energy to the home crowd.

With just over two minutes remaining, the Fuel pulled their goaltender in favor of an extra attacker, hoping to complete the comeback.

The gamble backfired when Cincinnati’s Ryan Kirwan scored into the empty net, with assists from Panwar and Copponi, extending the Cyclones’ lead to 4-2.

Indy refused to surrender.

With just over a minute remaining, Mitchell Hoelscher scored, assisted by Jacob Perreault and Matt Petgrave, once again cutting the deficit to a single goal.

The Fuel mounted a frantic attack during the final seconds, pressing Cincinnati for the tying goal, but the Cyclones held on for the 4-3 victory.

The loss was a disappointing conclusion to the Fuel’s opening weekend at the Fishers Event Center. After Friday night’s dramatic overtime victory over Wheeling, Indy was unable to produce another late-game comeback against a Cincinnati squad that looks considerably different from last season.

Cincinnati’s roster transformation is part of its relationship with the Toronto organization. In addition to young prospects assigned by the Marlies, the Cyclones have added veteran experience, including Alexander Burmistrov, a former first-round NHL draft pick who appeared in 348 NHL games.

The Fuel will have several days to regroup before returning to the Fishers Event Center on Friday, October 23, to face the Toledo Walleye. Faceoff is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.