OILERS TAKE ALL SIX POINTS IN WEEKEND SWEEP OF FLORIDA AND INDY
Tulsa trails fourth place Allen by just a single point after perfect weekend at the BOK Center.
OVERALL RECORD: 23-22-9
LAST WEEK: 3-0-0
Tulsa Oilers vs Florida Everblades at the BOK Center, February 17, 2018 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Photo: TeeJay Crawford
RESULTS
Friday, Feb. 16 – Tulsa 3, Florida 1 (BOK Center – Tulsa, OK) | Box Score | Video Highlights
The Tulsa Oilers overcame a 1-0 deficit at the start of the second period to knock off the top team in the ECHL 3-1 Friday in the first meeting with the Florida Everblades since January 2015. Stephen MacAuley put the Everblades on the board first late in the opening frame, but Garrett Ladd tied the score with a blast from the point on a second period power play. Captain Adam Pleskach found the net for the game-winning goal in the first seven minutes of the third, and Charlie Sampair added an empty net goal. Goaltender Devin Williams stopped 28 of 29 in the win for Tulsa.
Saturday, Feb. 17 – Tulsa 3, Florida 0 (BOK Center – Tulsa, OK) | Box Score | Video Highlights
It took 39:12 of game action, but Garrett Ladd broke a scoreless deadlock with a short-handed breakaway goal with 48 seconds left in the second period to put the Oilers ahead in the rematch against the Everblades Saturday. Ladd added a power play marker 23 seconds into the third to put Tulsa up 2-0, and helped setup Charlie Sampair for the third Oilers goal at 4:59 of the final stanza. Devin Williams turned away all 26 Florida shots to earn his league-leading third shutout of the season.
Sunday, Feb. 18 – Tulsa 6, Indy 2 (BOK Center – Tulsa, OK) | Box Score | Video Highlights
In the weekend finale, the Oilers fell behind in the first three minutes of play, when Robin Press put the Fuel on the board first. But Charlie Sampair went on to pick up a natural hat trick with two goals in the first period and another 2:32 into the middle frame to give Tulsa a 3-1 lead and spark of stretch of six consecutive goals. Conner Bleackley recorded the Oilers’ fourth goal, and Ryan Tesink made it 5-1, before Indy swapped out goaltender Etienne Marcoux for backup Matt Tomkins. Kale Kessy snuck in the sixth goal for Tulsa before the end of the stanza. Just over a minute into the third period, Oilers goalie Devin Williams was shaken up on a goal-mouth collision and could not return, leaving emergency backup goaltender Ian Keserich to man the net the rest of the way. Indy managed just one goal on 11 shots against the 32-year-old former Oiler who had been retired since the 2012-13 season, as Tulsa cruised to a 6-2 victory.
THE WEEK AHEAD
Friday, Feb. 23 – Colorado vs Tulsa, 7:05pm – BOK Center (Tulsa, OK)
Saturday, Feb. 24 – Colorado vs Tulsa, 7:05pm – BOK Center (Tulsa, OK)
FAST FACTS
- Garrett Ladd has 11 points (4g, 7a) in his last 5 games, including three 3-point performances.
- Charlie Sampair recorded his 2nd hat trick in less than a month Sunday and is 4th in the ECHL with 26 goals.
- Devin Williams is tied for the league lead with 3 shutouts, all of which came on home ice at the BOK Center.
TEAM TRENDS
- Tulsa is just one point behind Allen for the fourth and final Mountain Division playoff spot with 18 games left.
- The Oilers’ penalty kill has killed off 29 straight penalties at home since January 30.
- Tulsa plays the Colorado Eagles 5 straight times starting Friday and ending March 3 in Loveland.
STATISTICAL LEADERS
POINTS: 45 – Charlie Sampair
GOALS: 26 – Charlie Sampair
ASSISTS: 23 – Joey Sides, Adam Pleskach
PLUS/MINUS: +9 – Tommy Vannelli
PIMS: 193 – Kale Kessy
PP GOALS: 5 – Conner Bleackley, Adam Pleskach, Garrett Ladd
SH GOALS: 3 – Conner Bleackley, Charlie Sampair
GW GOALS: 5 – Conner Bleackley
SHOTS: 240 – Adam Pleskach
WINS: 12 – Jake Hildebrand
GAA: 2.65 – Devin Williams
SAVE %: .920 – Devin Williams
SPECIAL TEAMS
POWER PLAY: Overall – 30/216 (13.9% – 24th in ECHL)
Last Week – 2/13 (15.4%)
PENALTY KILL: Overall – 176/214 (82.2%- 16th in ECHL)
Last Week – 10/10 (100%)
LAST DROPS
Tulsa’s line of Garrett Ladd, Charlie Sampair and Adam Pleskach scored the Oilers’ first 9 goals of the weekend, picking up all three goals Friday in the 3-1 win over Florida, three more Saturday in a 3-0 shutout over the Everblades, and the first three Sunday in a 6-2 win against Indy. Ladd finished the week with 8 points (3g, 5a), Sampair ended up with 6 points (5g, 1a), and Pleskach finished with 4 points (1g, 3a).
MILITARY APPRECIATION NIGHT – FRIDAY, FEB. 23
The Tulsa Oilers will celebrate Military Appreciation Night, presented by Budweiser, Friday at 7:05pm against the Colorado Eagles at the BOK Center. The Oilers will be donating tickets to local military and veterans organizations, and will wear special jerseys that will be auctioned off after the game.
YOUTH JERSEY GIVEAWAY – SATURDAY, FEB. 24
The first 1,000 kids under 12 who enter the BOK Center on Saturday will receive a Tulsa Oilers youth jersey, courtesy of York Plumbing. Gates open at 6pm for the Oilers’ 7:05pm game against the Colorado Eagles.
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram , or “Like” us on Facebook for more information about your Tulsa Oilers.
#DefendTheRig
