(Photo by Johnna/Wichita Thunder)
TONIGHT’S MATCHUP
Tulsa Oilers @ Wichita Thunder 7:05 p.m.
Watch on ECHL-TV
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
8-1-1-1
TEAM CAPSULES
Tulsa Oilers
Overall: 35-30-3-2 (75 points)
Home: 21-10-3-1
Road: 14-20-0-1
Rank: 3rd in Central Division
Wichita Thunder
Overall: 18-40-6-6 (48 points)
Home: 10-18-3-4
Road: 8-22-3-2
Rank: 4th in Central Division
OILERS LEADERS
Goals: Phil Brewer – 24
Assists: Dennis Brown – 29
Points: Adam Pleskach – 47
+/-: Dennis Brown +14
PIM: Mathieu Gagnon – 158
THUNDER LEADERS
Goals: Kenton Miller – 16
Assists: Kale Kerbashian – 29
Points: Kale Kerbashian – 43
+/-: Michael Neal, +0
PIM: Dan Milan – 128
TONIGHTS MATCHUP
Tulsa is in Wichita for the Thunder’s last home game of their season. After a 5-1 beating over the Thunder, the Oilers are on the hunt for only three points between tonight and tomorrow. The Oilers are 8-1-1-1 against the Thunder—deeming themselves winners as they have clinched the Stone Wolf Casino Cup. Throughout the inner-team duel, the Oilers have earned the rights to the cup the last two season with the most points against one another.
The Oilers are 24-11-4 against Central Division opponents.
ROAD TO KELLY
The Tulsa Oilers are ninth in the Western Conference Standings—just one spot out of the final playoff position. Tulsa has 75 points; Quad City has 78. The Mallard’s magic number is now one since their win over the Fort Wayne Komets. The Oilers will need three points between tonight and tomorrow and Quad City cannot gain any. If the Oilers happen to tie the Mallards, Quad City would win the breaker.
B&B
Ben Murphy and Shawn Bates have found their niche on this Tulsa Oilers squad. Bates, in his first four games, has recorded five points. The Vermilion, Alberta native came to the Oilers off waiver claims after spending 17 games in the ECHL with the Atlanta Gladiators.
Murphy, fresh out of Bowling Green State University, owns seven points in eight games with the Oilers.
POWER [PLAY] HOUSE
When in the BOK Center, the Oilers bring it. In their own home, the Oilers are second in the ECHL on the power play. Tulsa may be in last place on the road with the man advantage but at home they have 21.4% just behind the Fort Wayne Komets. They have 21 total power play goals on 98 attempts in 35 games.
MOOSE MOVES
The Moose still have Oilers’ leading goal scorer, Dan DeSalvo, on loan. DeSalvo, on a contact with Tulsa, made his AHL debut with the Moose where he produced an assist. In his second game, DeSlavo tallied his first AHL goal against the Grand Rapids Griffins on Friday, March 11. In 11 games, the forward has seven points. Last week goaltender Jussi Olkinoura was both recalled by the Manitoba Moose then reassigned to Tulsa. Olkinuora made 27 saves Wednesday night against the Thunder.
OIL DROPS
The Oilers are fifth in the ECHL in shots against with a 27.59 percentage… Kevin Carr is 13th among goaltenders with a 2.39 goals against average and fourthin minutes with 2616… Phil Brewer is third among rookies with 24 goals and tied for first among rookies with six game-winning goals… Tulsa leads in team high penalty minutes with 109 on 01/02/16…
