(Photo by Kevin Pyle)
TONIGHT’S MATCHUP
Tulsa Oilers VS Wichita Thunder 7:05 p.m.
Watch on ECHL-TV
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
9-1-1-1
TEAM CAPSULES
Tulsa Oilers
Overall: 36-30-3-2 (77 points)
Home: 21-10-3-1
Road: 15-20-0-1
Rank: 3rd in Central Division
Wichita Thunder
Overall: 18-41-6-6 (48 points)
Home: 10-19-3-4
Road: 8-22-3-2
Rank: 4th in Central Division
OILERS LEADERS
Goals: Phil Brewer – 24
Assists: Dennis Brown – 29
Points: Adam Pleskach – 48
+/-: Dennis Brown +14
PIM: Mathieu Gagnon – 163
THUNDER LEADERS
Goals: Kenton Miller – 16
Assists: Kale Kerbashian – 29
Points: Kale Kerbashian – 43
+/-: Several @ -1
PIM: Dan Milan – 130
TONIGHTS MATCHUP
Last night Tulsa defeated the Thunder 2-1 but at the same time was surpassed in standings points by the Quad City Mallards to lose a spot in the ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs.
Tonight the Oilers will face the Wichita Thunder for their third consecutive contest on their last game of the season. The two get together in the BOK Center with the Oilers dominating the series between both, 9-1-1-1. Tulsa’s head to head victories with Wichita earn them the rights to the “Stone Wolf Cup”—an inner rivalry competition between the two. The Oilers have earned their status as champs for the last two seasons.
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 nine 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 29 saves last night against the Thunder
LOVE “4” LUTZ
The last three season of Oilers hockey has been forever changed by one standout player: Nathan Lutz. After an illustrious career, playing in more than 900 games, registered more than 100 goals and over 400 points, tonight will be Lutz’s last professional game. Lutz also served as captain for the Oilers for all 3 seasons he spent with the team. At 38 years old, Lutz will return home with his family (wife Kaya, daughter Abby, son Brooks) to Sakatchewan, Canada.
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 fourth in 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…
