FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 18, 2019
OILERS WIN SIXTH STRAIGHT IN ROUT OF GRIZZLIES
Tulsa jumps out to 6-0 lead and cruises to big win over Utah to stay in first place in the Mountain Division.
WEST VALLEY CITY, UT– The hottest team in the ECHL picked up its sixth straight win Friday, as the Tulsa Oilers (23-12-6) routed the Utah Grizzlies (22-11-4) 7-3 at the Maverik Center. The Oilers have won 10 of their last 11 games and sit atop the Mountain Division standings.
Utah outshot the Oilers 9-3 in the early going, but Tulsa goaltender Evan Fitzpatrickweathered the storm to keep the game scoreless. On Tulsa’s first power play of the game, Eric Draplukfired a shot through a screen the was deflected by Sam Wilburand into the net to give the Oilers a 1-0 lead. The Oilers scored again on their second man-advantage, when Ian McNultytipped a shot from Steven Kaunistopast Grizzlies goaltender Joe Cannata. McNulty added a second goal with 2:44 left in the period to give Tulsa a 3-0 lead after one. Utah pulled Cannata after the third goal for backup Kevin Carr.
After killing off four second period penalties, including a five-minute major, the Oilers extended their lead when Drapluk jammed a loose puck into the Utah net. Tulsa cushioned its lead to 5-0 when Scott Henegarfired a shot under the crossbar with just 1:22 left in the middle frame.
Tulsa captain Adam Pleskach, who was selected for next Monday’s ECHL All-Star Classic, scored the Oilers’ third power play goal to breakeven with Doug Lawrence for second place in franchise history with his 153rdgoal. That made it 6-0 just 4:25 into the final stanza. The Grizzlies scored back-to-back power play goals of their own to cut Tulsa’s lead to 6-2 when Tim McGauley and Jake Marchment found a way to beat Fitzpatrick, but Jared Thomas made it 7-2 shortly thereafter, when he jammed home a loose puck in the crease. Utah’s Turner Ottenbreit picked up a short-handed goal late to complete the scoring.
The Oilers had seven players who recorded multi-point games, led by McNulty (2g, 1a), Drapluk (1g, 2a), Wilbur (1g, 2a) and Steven Kaunisto(3a), who each had three-point outings. Fitzpatrick stopped 36 of 39 Grizzlies shots for his ninth win of the season.
The Oilers and Grizzlies face-off one more time in West Valley City before Tulsa returns home from a ten-day road trip. The Allen Americans come to Oil Country next weekend for three games in three days at the BOK Center. Tulsa and Allen battle Friday and Saturday at 7:05pm, before finishing off the series Sunday at 4:05pm on the York Plumbing Ice at the BOK Center.
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