THUNDER EVEN SEASON SERIES WITH 4-2 WIN OVER OILERS
The Oilers lost to the Wichita Thunder 4-2, bringing the season series to 2-2
WICHITA, KS— The Oilers couldn’t make it three-straight victories at INTRUST Bank Arena on Saturday, losing to the Thunder 4-2.
Tulsa’s first period scoring troubles continued, but the game remained tied through the opening frame with neither team finding the back of the net. Olle Eriksson Ek and Mitch Gillam stopped nine shots each.
Peter Crinella broke the deadlock 5:08 into the middle stanza, roofing the puck off a rebound created by a Cameron Hebig shot. Jack Kopacka beat Gillam off a turnover in the Thunder zone 1:13 later, giving the forward his first goal since being assigned to Tulsa by the Anaheim Ducks earlier in the week. Patrick Parkkonen scored with 1:53 left in the second frame, blasting a riser from the left point over the glove of Eriksson Ek, giving the Thunder a one-goal lead before the end of the middle period.
Stefan Fournier built off the momentum of the late goal, depositing a tap-in chance into a yawning cage less than a minute into the final period. Danny Moynihan answered with his team-leading 10th goal of the season, batting the puck out of the air, cutting the Thunder lead to 3-2. Ostap Safin restored Wichita’s two-goal lead at the 9:18 mark of the final frame, popping a chance short side over the shoulder of Eriksson Ek.
The Oilers will have a chance to pull ahead in the season series with three-straight contests at the BOK Center against the Thunder on Dec. 13, 14 and 15.
