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 Tulsa Oilers

Oilers End Florida Trip with 6-4 Loss to Solar Bears

January 18, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Tulsa Oilers News Release


ORLANDO, FL - In the finale of a three-game trip through Florida on Saturday night, the Tulsa Oilers comeback bid came up short in a 6-4 loss to the Orlando Solar Bears in front of 7,208 at the Amway Center. The Oilers fired 49 shots on goal, their second-highest shot total of the season, but were forced to settle for two out of a possible six points in their journey to the Sunshine State.

The Solar Bears jumped on the Oilers early as Jacob Cepis buried the first Orlando shot of the night with just 1:58 off the first period clock. Eric Baier's backhand pass through the slot connected with Cepis who snapped the puck past Tulsa goaltender Brandon Anderson from the edge of the right face off circle. Anderson, who made his Tulsa debut after being reassigned by the Washington Capitals, settled down after the Cepis strike and stopped eight shots over the remainder of the period. After putting up only 20 shots in Friday's loss to the Florida Everblades, the Oilers fired 12 shots in the opening 20 minutes on Saturday but were unable to solve Garret Sparks and trailed 1-0 at the end of the frame.

Orlando captain Stefan Della Rovere whipped a shot over the glove of Anderson at 2:23 of the second period to give his squad a 2-0 edge. Just 48 seconds after Della Rovere's sixth goal of the season, Tulsa winger Kyle O'Kane was robbed at close range by Sparks but reeled in the loose puck and fed Matt Larke on the back post for a wide open tap-in that cut the Orlando lead in half. After Brady Vail tipped a point shot past Anderson at 9:41 to restore the Solar Bears two-goal cushion, the Oilers answered quickly. Tommy Mele beat Sparks to the blocker side at 10:59 for his 12th tally of the season and Tulsa trailed 3-2. Mele set a new career-high for goals in a single season but once again, the Oilers were unable to sustain the momentum. Nick Larson finished a breakaway by tucking a backhand under the crossbar at 12:19 and the Solar Bears carried a 4-2 lead into the second intermission.

Seven minutes into the third period, Jeff Jubinville single-handedly brought the Oilers back within a single goal. The rookie center scooped up a rebound in front of his own net and scampered all the way into the Orlando zone where he stuffed a shot past Sparks to complete the coast-to-coast goal. Once again, the Oilers' momentum was short-lived. Solar Bears' defenseman Yann Sauve blasted a slap shot through Anderson just 29 seconds after Jubinville's tally and for the third time in the contest, Orlando was up by two goals. Drew Fisher's snap shot from the left circle at 9:26 cut the Orlando lead to 5-4 but the Oilers were unable to level the contest. Della Rovere notched an empty net goal with one second remaining to put the finishing touches on the Solar Bears victory.

Orlando forward Scott Tanski led all skaters with three points (3 assists) and Sparks picked up his sixth win of the season with a 45-save performance. Anderson ended his first game as an Oiler with 31 stops on 36 shots and Matt Larke, who registered a goal and an assist, was the only Tulsa player to record multiple points.

The Oilers head into the All-Star break at 19-18-4 and remain tied for second place in the Central Division. Tulsa travels to Missouri for its seventh consecutive road game on Friday, January 23 at 7:05 p.m.


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