(Photo by Kevin Pyle – www.photopyle.com)
TONIGHT’S MATCHUP
Tulsa Oilers VS Missouri Mavericks 4:05 p.m.
Watch on ECHL-TV
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, since being assigned to Tulsa has tallied 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…
