ECHL Tulsa Oilers

Oil Drops: Tulsa Oilers Weekly Report

Published on January 19, 2015 under ECHL (ECHL)
Tulsa Oilers News Release


LAST WEEK'S RESULTS

Wednesday, January 14 at Florida Everblades (6-5 W/SO)

Friday, January 16 at Florida Everblades (4-2 L)

Saturday, January 17 at Orlando Solar Bears (6-4 L)

UPCOMING GAMES

Friday, January 23 at Missouri Mavericks - 7:05 p.m.

TEAM CAPSULE

Overall: 19-18-1-3 (42 points)

Home: 12-10-1-1

Road: 7-8-0-2

Last 10: 5-4-0-1

Rank: 4th in Central Division

TEAM LEADERS

Goals: Adam Pleskach - 24

Assists: Drew Fisher - 29

Points: Adam Pleskach - 44

+/-: Jeff Jubinville +16

PIM: Tommy Mele - 124

WEEK IN REVIEW

For the first time in franchise history, the Oilers faced off against the Florida Everblades last Wednesday and earned a 6-5 shootout victory in a wildly entertaining contest at Germain Arena. Adam Pleskach scored two goals while Jeff Jubinville chipped in a goal and an assist to give the Oilers their fifth shootout win of the season. Goaltender Kevin Carr shut down all five of the Everblades' shootout attempts and made 39 saves for the win.

In the rematch with the Everblades on Friday, the Oilers were able to muster just 20 shots on net in a 4-2 loss. Kyle Bochek led Tulsa's offensive effort with a goal and an assist while Florida forward Mitch Wahl dished out four assists to help the 'Blades earn a split with the Oilers.

Saturday the Oilers traveled to the Amway Center in Orlando for a battle against the Solar Bears. Despite firing 49 shots, their second-highest shot total of the season, the Oilers comeback bid fell short in 6-4 setback. Newly acquired goaltender Brandon Anderson made 31 saves in his Tulsa debut and Matt Larke recorded a goal and an assist for the Oilers.

SO LONG SUNSHINE STATE

In their only journey of the season outside of the Central Division, the Oilers went 1-2-0 last week in their three-game swing through Florida. Third-line forwards Kyle Bochek and Matt Larke each posted four points in the three games and were the only Oilers to register at least one point in all three outings. The remaining 31 games on the Oilers' schedule are all against Central Division opponents.

NEW FACE IN NET

Brandon Anderson was reassigned to Tulsa from the Washington Capitals (NHL) on Saturday and made his first start for the Oilers on the same day. A 22-year old native of Langley, British Columbia, Anderson appeared in his first AHL game on January 10 and made 30 saves on 31 shots to lift the Hershey Bears to a 3-1 win over the Norfolk Admirals. Anderson, 6-foot-0, 187-pounds, also played seven games this season in South Carolina (ECHL) where he posted a 1-4-2 record with a 2.65 goals against average and a .889 save-percentage. In the 2013-14 campaign, Anderson made 39 appearances with the Reading Royals (ECHL) and ranked second in the league with 25 wins and seventh in the league with a 2.35 goals against average.

SCOTTY'S TIME TO SHINE

Defenseman Scott Macaulay stayed behind in Orlando where he will represent the Oilers this Tuesday night in the 2015 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic. The second-year pro leads all Tulsa defensemen in points (26) and power play points (11) and ranks third in the league in points among defensemen (6 goals, 20 assists). Macaulay is one of 21 players on a team of ECHL All-Stars that will face off against the Orlando Solar Bears at the Amway Center at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. ECHL-TV is offering a free broadcast of the All-Star Classic. Fans can set up an ECHL-TV account free of charge and use code CCMASC2015 to access the feed from Orlando.

"CHEK" IT OUT

Prior to Wednesday's contest against the Everblades, Tulsa center Kyle Bochek had not played in a competitive hockey game since November. However, the sixth-year pro made an immediate impact in the Oilers' lineup by posting four points (1 goal, 3 assists) and five penalty minutes in three games in Florida last week. Bochek, who played the entire 2013-14 season in Tulsa, is back in Oklahoma after playing in 28 games this season with the Coventry Blaze in the ELITE Ice Hockey League in the United Kingdom.

AN ELUSIVE NUMBER

The Oilers have won back-to-back games on seven occasions this season but have yet to record a three-game win streak. A third straight win once again eluded the Oilers last Friday when they suffered a 4-2 loss to the Everblades. When aiming for a third consecutive triumph, the Oilers are 0-5 at home and 0-2 on the road.

DEFENSIVE SEE-SAW

After allowing only four goals in three games against Rapid City the previous week, the Oilers surrendered 15 goals in three games in Florida. The Oilers gave up at least four goals in each contest and when allowing four goals or more this season, Tulsa has a 7-14-1 record.

THE BOYS HAVE BEEN BUSY

As of Monday, January 19, the Oilers have played in more games (41) than any other team in the ECHL. The schedule finally eases up on the Oilers as they will play just one game (at Missouri on Friday) in the next nine days.

DISCIPLINE RISING, PENALTIES DROPPING

Although the Oilers have been whistled for more minor penalties (255) than any other team in the league, the number of penalties has dwindled in January. In nine games this month the Oilers are averaging just 13.1 penalty minutes per game, well below their season average of 19.9 minutes per game, seventh-highest in the ECHL.

MILESTONES

Matt Larke scored his 100th career goal on Saturday at Orlando...Scott Macaulay played in his 100th professional game on Saturday against the Solar Bears...Tommy Mele scored his 12th goal of the season in Orlando on Saturday and set a new career-high for goals in a single season.

EXTRA DROPS

Jake Obermeyer recorded his first multi-point game of the season with two assists on Friday against Florida...The Oilers have been pushed beyond regulation in 11 games this season, the second-highest total in the ECHL...Defenseman Kevin Noble missed all three games in Florida due to a lower body injury and is expected to return to the lineup on Friday in Missouri.

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