FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 26, 2018
OILERS FINISH HOME STAND ON A FIVE-GAME POINT STREAK
Tulsa pulls into fourth place in the Mountain Division ahead of three games in Colorado, after picking up three of four points against the Eagles.
OVERALL RECORD: 24-22-10
LAST WEEK: 1-0-1
Tulsa Oilers vs Colorado Eagles at the BOK Center, February 23, 2018 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Photo: TeeJay Crawford
RESULTS
Friday, Feb. 23 – Colorado 2, Tulsa 1 (SO) (BOK Center – Tulsa, OK) | Box Score | Bobby Watson Story – KJRH
>> A depleted Tulsa Oilers team without five of its regulars jumped out to a 1-0 lead against the top team in the Western Conference, when Broken Arrow, OK native Bobby Watson scored just seconds into his first ECHL shift. Watson, who last played professionally in 2014-15 in the Southern Professional Hockey League participated in Tulsa’s training camp and was signed Friday before the game. Colorado tied the score on a second period power play, and after a scoreless third period and overtime frame, the Eagles won the game in a four-round shootout to snap the Oilers three-game winning streak.
Saturday, Feb. 24 – Tulsa 6, Colorado 3 (BOK Center – Tulsa, OK) | Box Score | Video Highlights
>> In Saturday’s rematch, the Eagles jumped out to a 2-0 lead by the 12:10 mark of the first period. But Joey Sides and Eric Drapluk buried back-to-back goals 23 seconds apart late in the frame to even the score before the first break. After 16 scoreless minutes during the second period, Drapluk scored his second and third goal of the game to complete his first career hat trick, giving Tulsa a 4-2 lead after two. Charlie Sampair added an insurance goal early in the third period, before Drayson Bowman fired home the Eagles’ third goal late. Reigning ECHL Player of the Week Garrett Ladd scored an empty netter to finish the scoring, and Devin Williams made 35 saves in the win.
THE WEEK AHEAD
Wednesday, Feb. 28 – Tulsa AT Colorado, 8:05pm CT – Budweiser Event Center (Loveland, CO)
Friday, Mar. 2 – Tulsa AT Colorado, 8:05pm CT – Budweiser Event Center (Loveland, CO)
Saturday, Mar. 3 – Tulsa AT Colorado, 8:05pm CT – Budweiser Event Center (Loveland, CO)
FAST FACTS
- Eric Drapluk doubled his goal total for the season (6) with his first pro hat trick Saturday.
- Devin Williams is 4-0-0-1 with a 1.26 GAA and a .963 save percentage in his last five starts.
- Bobby Watson has a 100% shooting percentage, scoring on his first career ECHL shot Friday.
TEAM TRENDS
- Tulsa is 2 points ahead of fifth place Allen, after trailing the Americans by 9 points at the All-Star break.
- The Oilers earned 9 out of a possible 10 points during the team’s recent 5-game home stand.
- Tulsa’s 6 goals Sunday was the fifth time the Oilers have accomplished the feat this season.
STATISTICAL LEADERS
POINTS: 46 – Charlie Sampair
GOALS: 27 – Charlie Sampair (4th in ECHL)
ASSISTS: 25 –Adam Pleskach
PLUS/MINUS: +9 – Tommy Vannelli
PIMS: 193 – Kale Kessy (2nd in ECHL)
PP GOALS: 5 – Conner Bleackley, Adam Pleskach, Garrett Ladd
SH GOALS: 3 – Conner Bleackley, Charlie Sampair (T-2nd in ECHL)
GW GOALS: 5 – Conner Bleackley
SHOTS: 246 – Adam Pleskach (1st in ECHL)
WINS: 12 – Jake Hildebrand, Devin Williams
GAA: 2.59 – Devin Williams (12th in ECHL)
SAVE %: .922 – Devin Williams (T-5th in ECHL)
SPECIAL TEAMS
POWER PLAY: Overall – 30/221 (13.6% – 24th in ECHL)
Last Week – 0/5 (0%)
PENALTY KILL: Overall – 182/221 (82.4%- 14th in ECHL)
Last Week – 6/7 (85.7%)
LAST DROPS
Not only was Eric Drapluk’s hat trick Saturday the first from an Oilers defenseman this season and the first of his career, his three goals came consecutively, giving the Pembroke Pines, FL native a natural hat trick. It was Tulsa’s second natural hat trick in 6 days, after Charlie Sampair accomplished the rare feat Feb. 18 in a 6-2 win over the Indy Fuel.
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