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Tulsa Oilers

Oil Drops: Tulsa Oilers Weekly Report

December 22, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Tulsa Oilers News Release


LAST WEEK'S RESULTS

Wednesday, December 17 vs. Wichita Thunder (2-1 L)

Friday, December 19 vs. Rapid City Rush (4-0 L)

Saturday, December 20 at Allen Americans (5-4 L)

Sunday, December 21 vs. Allen Americans (6-3 L)

UPCOMING GAMES

Friday, December 26 at Allen Americans - 7:05 p.m.

Sunday, December 28 vs. Allen Americans - 4:05 p.m.

- Post-game skate with the players at outdoor WinterFest Rink

TEAM CAPSULE

Overall: 13-13-1-2

Home: 9-8-1-1

Road: 4-5-0-1

Last 10: 3-7-0-0

Rank: 4th in Central Division

TEAM LEADERS

Goals: Adam Pleskach - 17

Assists: T.J. Caig - 19

Points: T.J. Caig - 29

+/-: Ricards Birzinsh, Kevin Noble +9

PIM: Tommy Mele - 103

WEEK IN REVIEW

For only the second time in eight meetings this season, the Oilers lost to the Wichita Thunder on Wednesday at the BOK Center. Thunder goalie Tim Boron made 29 saves and Mike Wilson's goal late in the second period proved to be the difference in the contest as Wichita claimed victory in the latest chapter of the StoneWolf Casino Cup series.

The Oilers finished up a five-game home stand on Friday night with a 4-0 loss to the Rapid City Rush. Tulsa was blanked for the second time this season despite firing 41 shots on net. Rush goalies Etienne Marcoux and Danny Battochio combined for the shutout and Jesse Schultz led the Rush offense with a goal and an assist.

Saturday in Allen, the Oilers watched helplessly as the Americans were awarded a 5-on-3 power play in the final minute of regulation in a tie game. Chad Costello poked a loose puck past Brady Hjelle with just 21 seconds remaining to give the Americans a 5-4 win. Kyle O'Kane netted a pair of first period goals for the Oilers and Hjelle made 39 saves in a losing effort.

The Oilers suffered a fifth straight loss on Sunday on home ice in a 6-3 setback to the Americans. Tulsa held a 2-1 lead in the second period but surrendered four unanswered goals to the Americans. Gary Steffes, Chad Costello, and Jamie Schaafsma each recorded three points for Allen in contest that saw both teams combine for new season-highs in penalty minutes.

SLIPPING AND SLIDING

The Oilers enter the holiday break on a five-game losing streak with four consecutive losses on home ice. Tulsa fell back to .500 (13-13-3) for the first time since November 8 and dipped from second place to fourth place in the Central Division standings. The Oilers have been outscored 21-9 over the course of the five-game skid. Tulsa has not dropped six straight games in regulation since December of 2012.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER TEAMS IN THIS LEAGUE???

After facing off against Allen for three consecutive contests in early December, the Oilers close out 2014 with a string of four straight games against the Americans. With losses to Allen on Saturday and Sunday, the Oilers are 3-6-1 overall in the season series and 1-3-1 at the BOK Center. The Oilers have faltered in six of their last seven outings against the Americans and are allowing an average of 4.9 goals per game in the season series.

PEANUT BUTTER HJELLE TIME

In the first 23 games of the season, Tulsa goalie Brady Hjelle (JELL-ee) made only four appearances. However, Hjelle has started four of the last six games and has faced an average of 40 shots in those four contests.

BRIGHT SIDE

Despite losing to Allen on Saturday, the Oilers offense was able to bust out of a recent slump. Tulsa scored four goals on Saturday, a higher offensive output than the previous three games combined. In those three contests, Tulsa scored two goals, its lowest three-game goal total since February of 2012. The Oilers still rank eighth in the ECHL with an average of 3.38 goals per game.

NOT SO SPECIAL

Tulsa has been shut down on the power play in four straight games and is just 1-for-23 with the man-advantage during the current five-game losing streak. The Oilers have allowed a power play goal in seven of their last ten and rank 16th in the ECHL with an 82.4-percent success rate on the penalty kill.

SHARP-SHOOTER

Kyle O'Kane scored two goals on three shots on Saturday and leads the Oilers in shooting percentage at 22.9-percent for the season. The third-year pro became the fourth Oiler to reach a double-digit goal total and is finding the back of the net on nearly one out of every four shots. Just over a third of the way through the season, O'Kane is already halfway to his career high of 22 goals set last season with the St. Charles Chill.

TOO MANY TOO OFTEN

The Oilers have allowed four goals or more in eight of their last ten games and have a 2-6-0 record in those games. For the season, Tulsa is giving up 3.76 goals per game and only Stockton (113) has surrendered more goals than the Oilers (109).

TOP PERFORMERS

T.J. Caig ranks fifth in the league with 29 points...Adam Pleskach is tied for second in the league with 17 goals and leads the ECHL with 133 shots...Rookie goalie Kevin Carr started only two of the last six games but continues to lead the ECHL in minutes and saves...Scott Macaulay is third among defensemen with 20 points and tied for the league lead among defensemen with 17 assists.

EXTRA DROPS

Adam Pleskach played in his 100th professional game on Sunday and scored his 50th career goal on Saturday...Nathan Lutz played in his 200th ECHL game on Saturday and is five games away from reaching 800 for his career...With a pair of assists on Saturday, T.J. Caig moved past the injured Jon Booras for the team lead in points...

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