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ECHL Tulsa Oilers

Mavericks Score Early and Often, Oilers Fall 7-4

November 16, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Tulsa Oilers News Release


TULSA, OK - The Tulsa Oilers were seeking a third straight victory on Saturday night but were unable to overcome a disastrous start in a 7-4 setback to the Missouri Mavericks in front of 4,502 at the BOK Center. In three home games against the Mavericks this season, the Oilers have suffered three losses. Missouri has tasted victory in seven straight trips to the BOK Center and has won 10 of its last 12 meetings against Tulsa.

Mavs forward Chris Crane opening the scoring in unlikely fashion just over two minutes into the first period. A seemingly innocent wrist shot from just inside the Tulsa blue line, clipped the glove of Hjelle and deflected up over his head before bouncing off of his back and across the goal line. Exactly two minutes after his first goal of the season, Crane added another. He walked out of the corner to the right of the Tulsa net and whipped the puck through Hjelle's legs to give the Mavericks a quick 2-0 edge. Hjelle was promptly lifted from the game by Oilers head coach Bruce Ramsay after stopping only one of the three shots he faced. With Kevin Carr inserted into the net, the Oilers were able to stop the bleeding for the rest of the period. Charles Lachance finished off an odd-man rush at 16:06 to cut the Missouri lead in half and give the Oilers momentum heading into the second period.

However, it was the Mavericks who owned the middle frame. Missouri picked up goals from Jared Brown, Lindsay Sparks, and a breakaway tally from Sebastien Thinel to blow the game wide open and established a 5-1 advantage. Tulsa center Steve Mele netted his first goal of the season at 17:55 of the second but the Oilers still found themselves looking at a sizable deficit to start the third.

In the second half of the final period, the Oilers offense starting showing signs of life. Adam Pleskach scored his tenth goal of the season to cut the Missouri margin to two goals at 11:45 and Mele brought the Oilers back within striking distance thanks to a brilliant individual effort. The Bronx, New York native streaked down the right wing and skated past Mavericks defenders behind the net before skating out front and snapping a shot past John Griggs at 14:28. After Mele's second score of the contest, it appeared the Oilers could complete the comeback. That hope lasted only 66 seconds as Mavs forward Brandon Hynes restored his team's two-goal lead by blasting a slap shot past Carr. Martin Lee added a 5-on-3 power play goal with one minute remaining in regulation to put the finishing touches on the Maverick's win.

The Oilers set a new season-high for goals allowed in a game and were unable to get their power play on track, finishing 0-for-7 with the man-advantage. Mele registered the Oilers' second four-point performance of the season (Jon Booras - 4 assists at Allen on Oct. 24) and Kevin Noble chipped in a pair of assists. The Mavs were led by Lee and Thinel who both finished the night with a goal and two assists. Missouri has scored a total of 30 goals this season and 16 of those goals have been scored in three games against the Oilers. The two sides meet again next Friday in Missouri for the Oilers first visit of the season to the Independence Events Center.

Tulsa concludes a three-game home stand on Tuesday, November 18 at 7:05 p.m. against the Wichita Thunder.

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