PREVIEW: 'Blades face Fuel in second-ever meeting in Indy

INDIANAPOLIS — Playing for the fourth time in the last seven days, the Florida Everblades (23-11-2-2, 50 pts.) continue a three-game week with a Thursday night matchup against the Indy Fuel (19-16-1-0, 39 pts.) at Indiana Farmers Coliseum. 

VITALS:Game 39: Everblades at Indy FuelWhen: 7:05 p.m. ETWhere: Indiana Farmers ColiseumWatch: ECHL TVListen: WJBX (101.5 FM, 104.3 FM, 770 AM)Social: Twitter | Instagram

Last time outFive different players notched multiple points, and six different players found the back of the net to help the 'Blades snap a three-game losing streak with a 6-3 win over the Kalamazoo Wings on Wednesday at the Wings Event Center. In the first meeting between the teams since April 1, 2017, Florida scored three times in the opening period and fired 50 shots on goal to reach the 50-point plateau. Kalamazoo's Justin Kovacs scored with eight minutes left in the game to cut Florida's lead to one, but Justin Auger scored only 78 seconds later to help seal the win for the Everblades. RECAP

Series At A GlanceThursday is just the seventh all-time meeting between Florida and Indy and only the second matchup in Indianapolis. The only other meeting between the two teams at Indiana Farmers Coliseum came on Dec. 5, 2014, when Florida won a wild 7-6 affair. Florida last played the Fuel in the 2017-18 season, as the two sides met for a three-game series in Estero in late October. Indy's only win against Florida was in that series on Oct. 27, 2017. The 'Blades have a 5-1-0 record in the all-time series. 

Players to WatchJustin Auger (FLA) - In his second year with the 'Blades, Auger continues to match forward Blake Winiecki's pace for the team lead in goals. Auger notched his fifth multi-point game of the season in Kalamazoo on Wednesday, posting a goal and an assist. The Waterloo, Ontario, native has netted 15 goals this season, and when he scores a goal, the 'Blades are 12-2-0. 

Bobby MacIntyre (IND) - A third-year pro, MacIntyre has been a key cog of the Fuel's offense in his first season with the club. The native of Scarborough, Ontario, leads Indy in assists with 21 and is second on the team in points with 28. MacIntyre spent all of the 2018-19 season with the AHL's San Antonio Rampage and posted 21 points (8g, 13a) in 58 games. He has 64 career ECHL points (27g, 37a) in 85 games. 

Bombs AwayPrior to last Saturday, which was the Everblades' 37th game of the season, Florida had not reached 40 shots on goal in consecutive games this season. With 50 shots on goal on Wednesday, Florida has now rifled off 40 or more shots in three straight games, posting an average of 45.33 shots in that three-game stretch. Since the start of the 2018-19 season, the 'Blades have compiled an 18-4-1-0 mark in games where they've posted 40-plus shots on goal, which includes a 5-2-0-0 record in such games this year. 

Strong StartWednesday was just the fourth time this season that Florida scored more than two goals in the first period. The ‘Blades last scored more than two goals in the first period of a road game in their season opener on Oct. 11 against the Norfolk Admirals. Florida also scored more than twice in the first frame on Dec. 28 vs. Jacksonville (6-1 W) and Dec. 21 vs. Greenville (5-2 W). Florida is 11-3-0-1 when leading after the first period. 

First UpFlorida had yielded the first goal of the game in five straight tilts before scoring first on Wednesday in Kalamazoo. The 'Blades have been a tough team to beat when they score first on the road. With the win against the K-Wings, Florida is now 7-1-0-1 when it scores first on the road. The only regulation loss was a 4-2 setback against Fort Wayne on Nov. 1. 

Next UpFlorida heads right back to Kalamazoo for a Saturday night matchup against the K-Wings. Faceoff is set for 7 p.m. in the final game of Florida's season-high five-game road trip. 

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The Florida Everblades are the proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Nashville Predators and AHL's Milwaukee Admirals