Oilers Rolled by Thunder in 5-2 Loss
March 24, 2013 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Tulsa Oilers News Release
TULSA, OK - Chad Painchaud and Kevin Young directed a high-powered offensive attack as the Wichita Thunder surged past the Tulsa Oilers 5-2 in front 6,346 at the BOK Center. Painchaud finished with two goals while Young had a goal and two assists.
Young, the Central Hockey League's Defenseman of the Year, secured his 22nd goal of the season when he sent the puck over the left shoulder of Shane Madolora to give the Thunder a 1-0 lead with 8:46 left in the opening period. With 41 seconds left in the opening frame, Tulsa's Kyle O'Kane knocked in just his second goal of the year to knot the score as the puck ricocheted off Wichita goalie Grant Rollheiser's chest and onto O'Kane's stick.
The Thunder began the second period with two goals just 64 seconds apart to gain a 3-1 advantage. First, Erick Lizon sent home his first goal of the year with 12:16 left in the period. Painchaud increased the visitors lead when he slammed home a rebound after another one of the Thunder's many odd-man rushes. Ryan Cramer answered with a breakaway score for Tulsa at the 4:53 mark of the second period to narrow the deficit to one. But with 1:11 left in the period, Painchaud, the Ontario native, rocketed home his second goal of the period and 19th of the year to give Wichita a 4-2 advantage heading into the final stanza.
Matt Summers extended the Thunder lead to 5-2 as he slithered the puck past Madolora with 13:55 to go in the game.
The loss is Tulsa's fourth straight and drops them to 22-38-5. The Oilers finish at 4-7 on the year against the Wichita Thunder (38-19-8), the second-place team in the CHL.
Madolora, who is second in the CHL with 1129 saves, came up with 30 saves Saturday night in the defeat. Rollheiser improved to 2-2-1 this year and had 26 saves.
Tulsa, 14-14-4 at home, will have to win its final game tomorrow to secure a fourth consecutive season with a winning record on home ice.
The Oilers will wrap up the 2012-13 season tomorrow at the BOK Center at 4:05 p.m. against the first-place Allen Americans.
• Discuss this story on the Central Hockey League message board...
Central Hockey League Stories from March 24, 2013
- Thunder Announce Opening Round Schedule vs. Arizona - Wichita Thunder
- Sundogs Set to Face Thunder in Opening - Arizona Sundogs
- Rush for the Cup 2013: Rush vs. Mavericks Opening Round Schedule - Rapid City Rush
- Thunder Close Regular Season with 5-2 Win over Missouri - Wichita Thunder
- Mavericks to Face Rapid City Rush in Opening Round, Schedule Announced - Kansas City Mavericks
- Mavericks Fall in Regular Season Finale, 5-2, to Wichita - Kansas City Mavericks
- Mallards Close Regular Season with Fifth Straight Win - Quad City Mallards
- Oilers Fall to Americans in Season Finale and Swan Song for Fleck - Tulsa Oilers
- Blaze Fall to Mallards in Defensive Season Finale - Bloomington Blaze
- Mallards Open Playoffs Thursday Night in Fort Worth - Quad City Mallards
- Mallards Host Playoff Games April 3 and April 5 - Quad City Mallards
- Brahmas Announce Playoff Series Schedule - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Denver Falls in 2-1 Thriller to Close out Regular Season - Denver Cutthroats
- Sundogs Sweep Brahmas, 2-0 Win - Arizona Sundogs
- Brahmas End Regular Season with 2-0 Loss - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Oilers Rolled by Thunder in 5-2 Loss - Tulsa Oilers
- Painchaud Scores Twice, Thunder Win in Tulsa 5-2 - Wichita Thunder
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
