CORALVILLE, IA – Cole Golka recorded the first two-goal performance of his professional career, providing the margin of difference as the Iowa Heartlanders defeated the Indy Fuel, 5-3. Jack Billings had a goal and an assist and Trevin Kozlowski was solid between the pipes, making 32 saves. The victory continues the Heartlanders hot streak, who are 6-1-2 over the last nine games.

Iowa took the lead in this contest as Zach White scored 9:54 into the contest. White entered the Fuel zone on a 2-0n-1 break, looking like he was going to pass the puck, but fired a wrist shot instead, beating Indy netminder Mitch Gillam for his fifth goal of the season.

Iowa held the one-goal lead through the first intermission, but quickly extended their lead early in the second period thanks to two goals by Golka scored 23 seconds apart. The first came at 2:23. Billy Constantinou took a shot from inside the right faceoff circle that Gillam saved, but the rebound was loose in the crease. Golka swept in, tucking it past the Indy netminder for his fourth goal of the season.

Just 23 seconds later, Golka was back on the board. Riese Zmolek fired a shot from the point that Golka redirected by Gillam, recording the second fastest pair of goals in team history. Alex Khovanov scored 12 seconds apart on November 26.

The Fuel were being dominated but they finally got on the board just after the nine-minute mark when Seamus Malone scored his 10th goal of the year. Jordan Schneider took a shot that Malone redirected by Kozlowski to make it 3-1.

Iowa responded just before the 15-minute mark, restoring the three-goal advantage. Jake Smith set up the play, making a perfect pass to the backdoor, where Billings blasted in the one-timer. It was the 12th goal of the season for Billings.

The Fuel put the pressure on in the third, outshooting Iowa, 16-8. Kozlowski was spectacular though, making a number of big saves. However, the Fuel were able to get one past him at 2:12 to pull back within two. With the faceoff inside the Heartlanders zone, Andrew Bellant battled for the draw, then gained control, bull rushing toward the net before lifting a wrist shot by Kozlowski to cut the deficit to two.

With just over two minutes left in the game, Indy pulled their netminder trying to get back into the contest, but Cole Stallard took away the puck in the Fuel zone and scored into the empty net for his seventh goal of the season.

Indy did add one more goal in the final minute when Liam Folkes scored his fifth goal of the season, but that would be all the Fuel could muster.

The victory moved Iowa to 15-18-6, two points behind Indy in the Central Division standings. The Heartlanders will welcome the Kalamazoo Wings for the first of two games starting on Friday. The puck drops at 7:00.

Gamesheet

By Robert Pannier