Photo by Kevin Pyle – www.photopyle.com
Although the Oilers were the team to last beat Missouri and their 14-game winning streak, they would not destroy the Maverick’s eighth on a Tuesday night at the BOK Center. Goaltender Matt Grogan was put to the test in his debut as an Oiler facing 26 shots, overtime and a shootout. During their fifth rendezvous of the season, the one-goal game tradition would continue with Missouri but the Oilers would lose 4-3 in their first home game of 2016. Adam Pleskach claimed the first star title with two goals as Christophe Lalancette contributed two assists.
Tulsa was blanked in the first period when the Maverick’s took a 2-0 lead. Missouri’s Kane Lafranchise slapped one from the point and made its way in for the first goal of the night. The 4:28 mark provided another Mav’s goal from the right circle, over Gorgan’s glove by Sebastien Sylvestre from Tanner Fritz and David de Kastrozza.
Three high-sticking penalties by Pleskach, all killed off by Tulsa’s defense, would be a rare addition of minutes to the forward who, prior to the six minutes in one period, only had 16 PIMs in 28 games. The Oilers would only take five shots in frame one.
Pleskach would show a difference performance in the second period. His first chance would come from a blue line shot by Connor Kucera that he deflected in to put his team on the board. Three minutes later rookie forward Phil Brewer would tally his seventh of the season on a power play rebound at 9:59.
With the score knotted up at two, Missouri’s Rocco Carzo supplied Jesse Root, who recently returned to his team after seven games with the American Hockey League’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers, with a breakaway goal.
Second period scoring didn’t stop there. Oilers’ point leader Pleskach, struck again. Lalancette would receive his second assist of the night on Pleskach’s second goal. The frame would end in a 3-3 tie and the Oilers outshooting the Mavericks 20-6, the most shots in a single period for Tulsa this season.
A third period of hockey would not decide the outcome, nor would 3-on-3 overtime.
In Tulsa’s fifth shootout of the season, each Oilers skater (Phil Brewer, Brandon Wong and Dennis Brown) was denied by Maverick’s netminder Josh Robinson. Andrew Courtney scored the game-winning goal on Grogan and left the Oilers with only one point, Courtney’s team with two.
Now 14-11-2-2 on the season, the Oilers will head to Wichita, Kansas this Friday night to visit the Thunder for another divisional matchup. Back at the BOK Center on Saturday, Tulsa will host Wichita as they sport retro jerseys on the ice.
Don’t miss a drop of oil! Follow the Tulsa Oilers on Twitter to join the conversation, Snapchat (@tulsa_oilers) for behind the scenes action and like Tulsa Oilers Hockey on Facebook. For ticket information check us out or call 918-632-7825.
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Below is an Excerpt for a Tulsa Oilers Game
Jeff: On this Boxing Day, the day after Christmas, glad to have you with us here for Tulsa Oilers hockey. Remember, following tonight’s game, the Tulsa Oilers will have a couple of days off. Then we’ll jump back on the bus and head up to Rapid City, South Dakota for a game there on New Year’s Eve, which will be next Thursday evening. This is the only game this weekend. Rare to have a 1-game weekend, honestly. Although earlier this month, the first weekend of December, there were no games. Tulsa had 2 home games on Wednesday and Thursday, but no games on the weekend, neither home or away, which is extremely rare to have a weekend off. This is the only game this weekend. Then the Oilers will have a few days off, will jump on the bus, will head up to Rapid City, South Dakota.
We’ll have the broadcast for you on New Year’s Eve. 7:35 face off. I think that’s Rapid City time, which is Mountain Time, which would make it 8:35 here in Tulsa unless they’re planning a 6:35 face off in Rapid City. I’m going to have to check that honestly. I’m not sure. I’m reading off the Oilers schedule card. Tulsa Oilers pocket schedule. I’m not sure if that’s got to be Tulsa time, 7:35. Hopefully, it’s a 6:35 Mountain Time start in Rapid City. I think it is. I think they’re starting earlier, because of New Year’s Eve. 6:35 Mountain Time. 7:35 face off on New Year’s Eve Tulsa time. That’ll be the 31st next Thursday. New Year’s Day is an off day, the first of January. We will stay in Rapid City for a came on the second. That’s next Saturday night. We will be in Rapid City for the second of those games. That one is going to be a 6:05 Mountain, 7:05 Tulsa time, Central time start. 7:05 next Saturday night.
We’re going to take a break. When we come back, we’re going to hear from Matt Konan, one of the defensemen for the Tulsa Oilers. When we continue. You’re listening to Tulsa Oilers hockey.
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