Jackals Shutout By Carruth, Fuel 3-0

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - January 31, 2015 - The Jackals could not solve Indy goaltender Mac Carruth and fell 3-0 despite out-shooting the Fuel 41-18 tonight at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum.
The Fuel struck first at 2:58 of the opening frame when Kyle Stroh won a face-off back to Garett Bembridge, who snapped a seeing-eye shot through traffic and past Sam Marotta. Later in the frame, Stroh carried the puck down the right side and ran into Marotta as he tried to muscle to the net. Marotta would stay in the game, but would be replaced after the second period by Justin Sand. Even though the Jackals out-shot the Fuel 17-7 in the first period, Indy took a 1-0 lead into the intermission.

The Jackals continued to pepper Carruth in the second period, but the Indy netminder turned aside each shot sent his way. With 59 seconds remaining in the middle frame, Kirill Gotovets fired a shot from the left circle through traffic and past Marotta. Despite holding a 27-12 shot advantage after two periods, the Jackals trailed 2-0.

Justin Sand made his first appearance in the ECHL in the third period, replacing the injured Sam Marotta and turned aside five of six shots faced. The lone goal in the final frame was scored when Justin Holl squeaked one past Sand on the power-play. The Jackals continued to fire rubber to the net, but were stoned by Carruth 14 times in the period.

Marotta turned aside 10 of 12 shots faced in 40 minutes of action but was handed the loss and Sand stopped five of six shots faced. Carruth stopped all 41 shots faced to earn his second shutout of the season.