(Photo by Kevin Pyle)
LAST WEEK’S RESULTS
Friday, March 11 – @Missouri Mavericks
THIS WEEK’S GAMES
Friday, March 18 – Missouri Mavericks, 7:05 p.m
Saturday, March 19 – Allen Americans, 7:05 p.m
Sunday, March 20 – @Allen Americans, 4:05 p.m
TEAM CAPSULE
Overall: 28-25-3-2 (61 points)
Home: 19-8-3-1
Road: 9-17-0-1
Rank: 3rd in Central Division
TEAM LEADERS
Goals: Phil Brewer – 19
Assists: Dennis Brown – 27
Points: Adam Pleskach – 40
+/-: Dennis Brown +14
PIM: Mathieu Gagnon – 132
WEEK IN REVIEW
Tulsa was unable to capture the two points available to them on Friday as they faced the Missouri Mavericks for the second consecutive weekend. The Oilers fell 3-1 in Independence, Missouri despite determined efforts.
The Mavericks opened scoring on forward Reed Seckel’s chance just 2:26 into the period. Andrew Johnston put the Oilers on the board but two more from Missouri got behind Kevin Carr to finish things off in Tulsa.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Oilers have not gotten past the Mavericks in their last three meetings. However, each Tulsa loss has come to the team while in Missouri territory. Their last win against the league-leaders was in Tulsa—where they play on Friday.
Another team the Oilers seem to have more success against at home is the Allen Americans, Saturday and Sunday’s opponent. The Oilers will host the Americans on Saturday, then travel to Texas to battle them again Sunday. Recently, both teams have had major roster moves as the Oilers have lost a number of skaters to the Manitoba Moose (including team leader Dan DeSalvo) and the Americans have acquired defenseman Matt Register and forward Nicholas Miglio.
ROAD TO KELLY
After a Quad City Mallards win this weekend, the Oilers have lost their playoff position status. The Mallards hold the 8th place spot with 64 points as the Oilers slump behind with 61, just two points ahead of the Indy Fuel. Out of the remaining 14 games, the Oilers play three that are within ten points (Quad City Mallards, Colorado Eagles and Utah Grizzlies). Tulsa controls their own destiny as they look to get back in the race to the Kelly Cup Playoffs.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Oilers penalty kill has maintained success throughout the season until recently. In each of their last four games, Tulsa has given up at least one goal against to the opposing team on the power play.
On the road, the Oilers may be in dead last at 28th on the power play, but at home they are 5th. Tulsa returns to the BOK Center this week to utilize their 19.3 percent man advantage.
MOOSE MOVES
This past week the Oilers have received back forward Ben Walker and lost Brennan Serville and Dan DeSalvo to the Manitoba Moose, the Oilers American Hockey League affiliate. DeSalvo, on a contact with Tulsa, made his AHL debut with the Moose on Wednesday night with the Moose where he produced an assist. In his second game, DeSlavo tallied his first AHL goal against the Grand Rapids Giffins on Friday, March 11. In three games, the forward has three points.
SPRING BREAK
Tulsa’s last game in the BOK Center was on February 23 against the Idaho Steelheads. Since, the Oilers have traveled to Cincinnati, Fort Wayne, Evansville and Missouri. The Oilers break from the BOK ends on March 18 and 19 when they host the Missouri Mavericks and Allen Americans before spending another week on the road in Utah.
ALZHEIMERS NIGHT & PUCK OF THE IRISH
When the Oilers return to the BOK Center on March 18 it will be for Alzheimer’s Night. Partnering with the Alzheimer’s Association, Tulsa will be wearing specialty jerseys that will be auctioned off after the game. Unique to the occasion and a first for the Oilers, goaltender Kevin Carr will sport a custom made mask that will also be auctioned off with proceedings going to the cause.
The next night, March 19, the Oilers celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with holiday t-shirts. For a fixed price, fans can purchase a festive-themed Oilerman shirt packaged with a ticket to the game.
EXTRA DROPS
Kevin Carr is 11th among goaltenders with a 2.26 goals against average and 2nd in minutes with 2498… Phil Brewer is 16th among rookies with 34 points (19 goals and 15 assist)..
Old Game Preview Excerpt:
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
4-3-1-1
All-time: 19-40-5
TEAM CAPSULES
Tulsa Oilers
Overall: 28-23-3-2 (61 points)
Home: 19-8-3-1
Road: 9-15-0-1
Rank: 3rd in Central Division
Missouri Mavericks
Overall: 44-7-3-2 (93 points)
Home: 25-3-0-1
Road: 19-4-3-1
Rank: 1st in Central Division
OILERS LEADERS
Goals: Phil Brewer – 19
Assists: Dan DeSalvo – 35
Points: Dan DeSalvo – 51
+/-: Dan DeSalvo, Dennis Brown +16
PIM: Mathieu Gagnon – 125
MAVERICKS LEADERS
Goals: Jesse Root – 26
Assists: Tyler Barnes – 34
Points: Jesse Root – 58
+/-: Jesse Root, +33
PIM: Andrew Courtney – 56
TONIGHT’S MATCHUP
The last two nights the Oilers have experienced losses—both to the Evansville IceMen and both in a 6-2 fashion. Phil Brewer scored goals in both contests and Dan DeSalvo inked three assists.
Tonight, the Oilers and Mavericks go head to head for the tenth time this season. Tulsa is 4-3-2 against Missouri as the Oiler team is the only to beat the league-leaders more than three times.
RING RING
Called-Up. Last week the Oilers received a three phone calls from the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League, resulting in Tulsa’s loss of five players. Forwards Axel Blomqvist and Jimmy Lodge were recalled. Blomqvist, 21, has skated in 25 games with the Oilers, producing 10 points (5 goals and 5 assists). The Osby, Sweden native earned a three-point game for Tulsa on February 20 against the Allen Americans. Standing six feet and seven inches, Blomqvist, has appeared in 14 contest with the Moose–inking two penalty minutes. Lodge, sin
eight points in 13 games (1 goal and 7 assists) and 12 penalty minutes. Last Friday, The Moose recalled forward Jiri Fronk and defenseman Brennan Serville. Fronk, 22, has suited up for five games with the Oilers where he tallied two points (1 goal and 1 assist). Serville, 22, has split time between the Oilers and Moose this season skating in 17 games with Tulsa and three with Manitoba. The Winnipeg Jets 2011 draft pick (round 3, #78 overall) has registered one assist with the Oilers. On Monday, forward Ben Walker was recalled to the Manitoba Moose completing the week of roster movement.
PLAYOFF WATCH
The Oilers are 8th in the Western Conference (16th overall)—a spot that puts them playoff eligible if the season ended today. Tonight the Oilers take their 61 points and try to snag from the team with 93 (Missouri) after losing four to the IceMen.
DESALVO
When in the BOK Center, Dan DeSalvo can’t help but put up numbers. Since December 13, there has yet to be a home game that he has not produced on. With 22 points in 17 games at home, the Illinois native leads Tulsa with 51 points. DeSalvo is 12th overall in the ECHL for points, 2nd among rookies in points, 3rd among rookies in assists.
EXTRA DROPS
Kevin Carr is 10th among ECHL goaltenders with a 2.24 goals against average and second in minutes (2381)… Dennis Brown is 7th among defensemen with 32 points and 3rd in assists with 27… Oilers are fifth in shots against averaging 27.52 and eighth in goals against at 2.66…Tulsa has the sixth best home power play in the ECHL with at 19.3 percent…
