(Photo by Kevin Pyle – www.photopyle.com)
LAST WEEK’S RESULTS Friday, March 18 – Missouri Mavericks (3-2 W) Saturday, March 19 – Allen Americans (3-2 W-SO) Sunday, March 20 – @ Allen Americans (4-3 W)
THIS WEEK’S GAMES Wednesday, March 23 – @ Utah Grizzlies Friday, March 25 – @ Utah Grizzlies Saturday, March 26 – @ Utah Grizzlies
TEAM CAPSULE Overall: 31-25-3-2 (67 points) Home: 21-8-3-1 Road: 10-17-0-1 Rank: 3rd in Central Division
TEAM LEADERS Goals: Phil Brewer – 21 Assists: Dennis Brown – 28 Points: Adam Pleskach – 43 +/-: Dennis Brown +15 PIM: Mathieu Gagnon – 147
WEEK IN REVIEW The Oilers ended their seven-game losing streak with a perfect weekend as they claimed six out of a possible six points. Tulsa defeated both the Missouri Mavericks and Allen Americans—two teams above them in the Central Division.
Friday night the Oilers returned home for their first game in the BOK Center since February 23. Not only did the home team secure a win over the Missouri Mavericks, but they also hosted the second largest crowd in the ECHL this season with 14,265 fans. Oil struck first and the three Tulsa goals were produced by Nathan Lutz, Mathieu Gagnon and Phil Brewer.
Saturday and Sunday the Oilers hosted the Allen Americans. Each night Tulsa’s efforts in scoring first pushed them to a win. The regulation goal scorers on Saturday night would be Phil Brewer and Adam Pleskach. Ben Walker sealed the seventh-round shootout victory. Sunday’s win went 4-3 in 60 minutes as Brady Ramsay took a pair of goals and Andrew Johnston left with two assists. Tom Kroshus inked his first professional goal.
LOOKING AHEAD This week the Oilers travel to Utah to see the Grizzlies for the second time ever in the Maverick Center in West Valley City. The last time the two got together in the mountains, the Oilers were defeated 5-2. The Grizzlies are three spots above the Oilers in the Western Conference with 73 points and three extra games at hand.
ROAD TO KELLY The Tulsa Oilers are ninth in the Western Conference Standings—just one spot out of the final playoff position. With their three wins in three nights, Tulsa has pulled within one point of the Quad City Mallards who are currently holding the last slot. Ahead this week, the Oilers have an opportunity to earn another six points against the Grizzles who are six ahead at 73.
POWER 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 21.1% just behind the Fort Wayne Komets. They have 19 total power play goals on 90 attempts in 33 games.
MOOSE MOVES Yesterday the Manitoba Moose recalled forward Ben Walker. Walker, 22, returned to the Moose after skating in four games with them where he produced 4 penalty minutes. The Edina, Minnesota native has suited up in 36 contest with the Oilers–logging 11 points (7 goals and 4 assists). 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 Giffins on Friday, March 11. In five games, the forward has five points.
EXTRA DROPS The Oilers are fifth in the ECHL in shots against with a 27.59 percentage… Kevin Carr is tenth among goaltenders with a 2.26 goals against average and third in minutes with 2498… Phil Brewer is tied at third among rookies with 21 goals…
An Oilers excerpt below:
CYCLONES LEADERS
Goals: Jack Downing – 26
Assists: Zach Budish, Andrew Yogan – 25
Points: Jack Downing, Zach Budish – 45
+/-: Andrew Yogan, Joe Wilson, +15
PIM: Tommy Mele – 115
TONIGHT’S MATCHUP The Oilers meet the Cincinnati Cyclones for the first time in club history and the only time this season. The Cyclones and Oilers are tied in the ECHL Western Conference standings at 61 points. Cincinnati has one extra game played on Tulsa.
Each have had success 28 times this season (19 each at home). Jack Downing leads the Cyclones with 26 goals.
PLAYOFF WATCH The Oilers are currently ranked 6th in the Western Conference (12th Overall), a spot that puts them in playoff position if the season ended today. Of the next two teams Tulsa faces, both of them hold a spot above the Oilers. Tonight the Oilers will face the team directly below them at 7th, the Cyclones.
TULSA TRADE The Tulsa Oilers announced Wednesday that they have acquired forward Andrew Johnston from the Indy Fuel to complete the trade of Brandon Wong and Trevor Campbell on February 8, 2016.
Johnston, 24, began the 2015-16 campaign with the South Carolina Stingrays where he produced four points (2 goals and 2 assists) before his time with the Fuel. While in Indy, he skated in 12
contests tallying two assists and two penalty minutes.
The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native has spent 50 games in the American Hockey League with the Adirondack Phantoms/Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
RED HOT AT HOME The Oilers power play may be 28th in the ECHL on the road, but at home they rank 8th with a 19.3 percentage. Tulsa has capitalized on 23 of 174 opportunities this season.
EXTRA DROPS Kevin Carr is 8th among ECHL goaltenders with a 2.20 goals against average and second in minutes (2313)… Phil Brewer is tied for first in rookie shootout goals with two… Dan DeSalvo is fourth among rookie leaders with 47 points, third in assists with 31 and first in plus/minus with 19…Dennis Brown is 9th among defensemen with 31 points and 3rd in assists with 26… Oilers are fourth in shots against averaging 27.90…
February 26, 2016
TONIGHT’S MATCHUP
Tulsa Oilers @ Cincinnati Cyclones 7:05 p.m. EST Watch on ECHL-TV
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
None
TEAM CAPSULES
Tulsa Oilers
Overall: 28-19-3-2 (61 points)
Home: 19-8-3-1
Road: 9-11-0-1
Rank: 3rd in Central Division
Cincinnati Cyclones
Overall: 28-20-3-2 (61 points)
Home: 19-5-1-2
Road: 9-15-2-0
Rank: 2nd in Midwest Division
OILERS LEADERS
Goals: Adam Pleskach – 18
Assists: Dan DeSalvo – 31
Points: Dan DeSalvo – 47
+/-: Dennis Brown +21
PIM: Mathieu Gagnon – 119
The Oilers are within one point of the Quad City Mallarad with a playoff spot. They play Utah this week who also is not too far ahead. This will be a huge week for Tulsa as they look to gain that last and final slot into the Kelly Cup Playoffs
