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ECHL Tulsa Oilers

Frantic Finish Leaves Oilers with 5-4 Loss to Rush

February 6, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Tulsa Oilers News Release


TULSA, OK - In a contest that featured four goals in the final five minutes of the third period, the Tulsa Oilers were outlasted by the Rapid City Rush in a 5-4 decision on Thursday night at the BOK Center. Rush forward Daniel Barczuk buried a rebound at the 18:05 mark of the final frame to give Rapid City a comeback victory and dash the Oilers' hopes of a third straight win on home ice.

Tulsa forward Tommy Mele, back in the Oilers lineup after a call up to Oklahoma City (AHL) last week, thought he put his team on top early with a long-range slap shot but the goal was immediately waved off by referee Andy Thackaberry. The Oilers were called for goalie interference but wasted little time in manufacturing another scoring opportunity. After Jeff Jubinville was denied at close range by Rush goalie Joe Howe, the loose puck was slammed home by Drew Fisher to give Tulsa a 1-0 edge with 7:54 remaining in the first period. Fisher, who leads the Oilers with 49 points, extended his current point streak to five games.

With Rapid City already on a power play to start the second period, a delay of game minor on Tulsa captain Nathan Lutz provided the Rush with a two-man advantage. Rush forward Patrick Cullen whipped a shot past Oilers goalie Brandon Anderson at 1:28 to level the contest at 1-1. Tulsa promptly returned the favor at 2:52 and regained a 2-1 lead as forward Tommy Mele recorded his 14th goal of the season. Mele drifted across the Rush zone before rocketing the puck over the glove shoulder of Howe from just inside the blue line. Kale Kerbashian, appearing in his third game for the Rush since being acquired from Evansville last week, responded by showing off his range with a game-tying wrist shot at 6:28 of the middle frame. Another quick answer from the Oilers came in the form of a long-range wrist shot from Lutz at 7:55 to give Tulsa it's third one-goal lead of the night at 3-2. Lutz fired a shot through traffic and past Howe immediately after receiving a face off assist from the stick of Jon Booras.

The Oilers maintained their narrow advantage until the 14:47 mark of the third period when Kevin Harvey, who began his third tour of duty with the Rush on Thursday, re-directed a Daniel Tetrault power play shot past Anderson to knot the game at 3-3. Only 65 seconds later the Rush took its first lead of the game when Jesse Schultz stick-handled through traffic before roofing a backhand over Anderson for his 18th goal of the season. The Oilers mustered their rebuttal in just 32 seconds. Shortly after crossing the Rapid City blue line, Fisher dropped a pass for Dave Pszenyczny who found an open lane down the slot and whizzed a shot past Howe for the equalizer. The final swing of momentum was provided by Barczuk who capped off a three-goal third period for the Rush. A centering pass from Johan Ryd deflected off of Anderson and directly to the tape of Barczuk who sucked the air out of the arena with his 10th tally of the season.

The Oilers were outshot 35-23 and fell to 2-4-0 against the Rush at the BOK Center this season. Rapid City finished 2-for-8 on the power play while Tulsa failed to capitalize on any of its four power play chances. For just the second time all season, the Oilers were defeated in regulation after carrying a lead into the third period.

The Oilers hold a five-point lead on the Rush for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Central Division and the two clubs will meet again on Saturday at 7:35 p.m. at the BOK Center for TD Williamson "Pink In The Rink Night" benefiting Turn Tulsa Pink.

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