Game Preview: Tulsa at Quad City - Tonight at 7:05 p.m.
October 23, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Tulsa Oilers News Release
ATTACKING THE QUACK
The Oilers face off against the Mallards tonight for the first of five meetings this season and the first of two games in two nights at iWireless Center. Tulsa won one of its first three games over opening weekend while Quad City started the 2015-16 campaign with a win in Allen last Friday and a shootout loss in Wichita on Saturday. The Oilers and Mallards are no longer divisional rivals as Tulsa remains in the Central Division of the ECHL and Quad City was relocated to the Midwest Division. Last season, the Oilers picked up points in each of their five visits to Moline (3-0-2) and all-time, the Oilers are 11-8-3 against Quad City with a mark of 5-6-1 at the iWireless Center.
FIRST OF MANY
The Oilers earned their first win of the season and the first win of the Jason Christie era with a 3-1 victory over the Allen Americans last Sunday afternoon at the BOK Center. Tulsa picked up goals from Matt Konan, Brandon Wong, and Brady Ramsay while goaltender Jussi Olkinuora turned in a 31-save performance for his first "W" of the season.
WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU?
Earlier this week, the Oilers acquired defenseman Dennis Brown in a trade with the Manchester Monarchs in exchange for future considerations. Brown, 26, played 47 games last season for Jason Christie with the Ontario Reign and recorded one goal to go along with 14 assists and 30 penalty minutes. A native of Cypress, California, Brown spent four seasons at Western Michigan University before beginning his pro career at the end of the 2013-14 season with the Reign.
RAMMER REMAINS
The Oilers lost one "Rammer" in the offseason as former head coach Bruce Ramsay departed for the AHL, but the Oilers kept another "Rammer" as forward Brady Ramsay returned for a second season in Tulsa. The Calgary, Alberta native is the only Oiler to record a point in each of the first three games of the season. Ramsay scored the game-tying goal on Friday, chipped in an assist on Saturday, and potted a long-distance empty net goal to seal the Oilers' win on Sunday.
CONSISTENT-"C"
Prior to the home opener last Friday, veteran defenseman Nathan Lutz was voted team captain by his teammates. The 37-year old will wear the "C" on his sweater for the third consecutive season. Lutz, is in his 15th season of pro hockey and has not missed a single game (regular season or playoffs) since arriving in Tulsa in 2013.
KILLING IT
Through two games, the Oilers have faced 14 opposing power plays and allowed just one goal. The only blemish on the Oilers' penalty kill record occurred Saturday in Allen when the Americans, already on the power play, scored with an extra attacker (6-on-4) before the Oilers could touch the puck on a delayed penalty call.
ON THE PLUS SIDE
Forwards Ben Walker and Brian Nugent are the only Oilers' players to record a plus rating in each of the first three games. Walker, a 22-year old center from Edina, Minnesota, scored the Oilers' first goal of the season on Friday on was on the ice for three of Tulsa's first four goals of the year. Nugent, who played last season with the Cincinnati Cyclones, scored his first goal as an Oiler on a third period breakaway in Allen on Saturday night.
OIL DROPS
Rookies Brennan Serville, Tom Kroshus, and Dan DeSalvo each recorded their first professional point over the weekend...Tulsa is 0-for-11 on the power play and one of six teams in the ECHL yet to score with a man-advantage...The Oilers suffered back-to-back regulation losses to start a season for the first time since 2006.
TONIGHT'S MATCHUP
Tulsa Oilers at Quad City Mallards - 7:05 p.m. at iWireless Center in Moline, IL
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
None
TEAM CAPSULES
Tulsa Oilers
Overall: 1-2-0-0 (2 points)
Home: 1-1-0-0
Road: 0-1-0-0
Rank: 4th in Central Division
Quad City Mallards
Overall: 1-0-0-1 (3 points)
Home: 0-0-0-0
Road: 1-0-0-1
Rank: 3rd in Midwest Division
OILERS LEADERS
Goals: Brady Ramsay - 2
Assists: Dan DeSalvo, Tom Kroshus, Adam Pleskach - 2
Points: Brady Ramsay - 3
+/-: Brian Nugent, Ben Walker, +4
PIM: Matt Konan - 7
MALLARDS LEADERS
Goals: Logan Nelson - 3
Assists: Miles Koules, Mike Monfredo, Collin Valcourt - 2
Points: Logan Nelso - 3
+/-: Mike Monfredo, +3
PIM: Ryan Tesink, Collin Valcourt - 5
TULSA VS. QUAD CITY ALL-TIME
Overall: 11-8-3
Home: 6-2-2
Road: 5-6-1
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