Oilers' Comeback Bid Falls Short in 4-3 Loss to Mavericks
November 1, 2013 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Tulsa Oilers News Release
TULSA, OK - For the second game in a row, the Tulsa Oilers fired 19 shots on goal in the third period only to see a comeback bid fall just short. Friday night, the Oilers erased a three-goal deficit but still dropped a 4-3 decision to the Missouri Mavericks in front of 4,163 at the BOK Center. The Oilers (0-4-2) are winless in the first six games of season for the first time in franchise history.
The Mavericks (5-0-0) took control of the contest early when Mike Ramsay flipped the puck over the shoulder of Oilers goalie Shane Madolora just 88 seconds into the first period. The visitors' lead doubled when defenseman Matt Stephenson took a feed from Sebastien Thinel on a power play and rifled a shot past Madolora at the 5:40 mark of the opening frame. After Eric Castonguay pushed the Mavs' lead to 3-0 on another power play, Madolora was replaced in the Tulsa net by Ross MacKinnon. Madolora's night ended with nine saves on 12 shots.
The Oilers began working their way back into the game in the second period. Ben Gordon scored his second goal in as many games when his shot from the left wing found its way past Missouri netminder Joe Howe just after the mid-way point of the period. Less than four minutes later, the Oilers broke an 0-for-19 power play slump when blue-liner Eric Tallent sent a missile past Howe for his first goal of the season. Missouri carried a 3-2 edge into the final frame.
Oilers newcomer Adam Pleskach pulled the home team even one minute into the third period. Brandon Coccimiglio, playing in his first game of the season after a stint on the injured reserve list, fed a pass to Pleskach from the corner and the 25-year old rookie blasted a shot past Howe for the equalizer. The Mavericks bounced back almost immediately and notched their third power play goal of the night when John-Scott Dickson snuck a shot past MacKinnon at 3:32. Dickson's third tally of the season proved to be the game-winner despite a furious flurry of offensive chances from Tulsa down the stretch. The Oilers outshot the Mavs 19-3 over the final 20 minutes but were left with their third straight home loss. The Oilers have ended up on the wrong side of five consecutive one-goal decisions and are the only winless team in the Central Hockey League.
The Oilers are back home on Saturday night for a 7:35 p.m. puck drop against the Allen Americans. It is the fourth meeting in the last seven days between the two clubs.
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Central Hockey League Stories from November 1, 2013
- Americans Remain Atop the CHL with Shootout Win - Allen Americans
- Mavericks Come out on Top in Tulsa - Kansas City Mavericks
- Oilers' Comeback Bid Falls Short in 4-3 Loss to Mavericks - Tulsa Oilers
- Denver Cutthroats Fall in Shootout - Denver Cutthroats
- Mallards Power Past St. Charles - Quad City Mallards
- Thunder Bring Back Beaureguard; Waive Gallimore - Wichita Thunder
- CHL Sher-Wood Coaches Poll Results Announced - CHL
- Denver's Garett Bembridge Named Easton/CHL Player of the Month - CHL
- Rookie Forward Signs with Oilers, Beauregard and Klempa Waived - Tulsa Oilers
- Mavericks Odegaard Signed to Standard Contract, Hayes to IR - Kansas City Mavericks
- Rapid City's Tim Boron Named Warrior/CHL Goaltender of the Month - CHL
- Shots from the Point for November 1, 2013 - CHL
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