ECHL Tulsa Oilers

Carr Carries Oilers to 2-0 Victory over Thunder

Published on November 27, 2015 under ECHL (ECHL)
Tulsa Oilers News Release


TULSA, OK - The Tulsa Oilers began a stretch of three games in three days with a 2-0 victory over the Wichita Thunder on Friday night in front of 4,933 at the BOK Center. Tulsa goaltender Kevin Carr posted his second shutout of the season, and fifth of his career, with a 24-save performance. Rookie defenseman Justin Mansfield notched his first professional goal as the Oilers earned their first win of the season over the Thunder and moved past Wichita for sole possession of third place in the Central Division.

After a memorable bout between Mathieu Gagnon and Erick Lizon in Wichita on November 11, a rematch between the two heavyweights seemed imminent on Friday. Seven minutes into the opening period, the two enforcers didn't disappoint with a spirited contest that was applauded by the BOK Center crowd. Four minutes after the fight, Mansfield rocketed a high-slot wrist shot over the glove of Wichita goalie David Shantz to break the scoreless draw. Mansfield, who was re-signed by the Oilers last week, scored his first goal in the 17th game of his young career.

Wichita seized momentum in the second period and peppered Carr with 16 shots in the frame, but the Tulsa netminder remained steady and made his most spectacular stop of the night with a brilliant toe save on a Thunder power play. Carr and the Oilers maintained a 1-0 edge heading into the third period.

Oilers' forward Phil Brewer was denied on a shorthanded breakaway in the first period, but at the 11:36 mark of the third, the rookie redeemed himself to give the home side a two-goal cushion. Center Dan DeSalvo floated a pass across the slot where Brewer was waiting to snap a shot over a sprawling Shantz for his fifth tally of the season. Brewer, who like Mansfield, joined the Oilers as an amateur at the end of last season, tied Emerson Clark for the team lead with five goals and provided Carr with more than enough breathing room to finish the job.

Tulsa ran its record to 6-7-1-1 overall while Wichita dropped its sixth consecutive road game and suffered its fifth loss in the last six outings. The long-time rivals will matchup again on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. at Intrust Bank Arena in the fourth meeting of the StoneWolf Casino Cup series.

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ECHL Stories from November 27, 2015


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