ECHL Tulsa Oilers

Oilers Drop Fifth Straight in Penalty-Filled Affair against Americans

December 21, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Tulsa Oilers News Release


TULSA, OK - The Tulsa Oilers suffered a fifth straight loss on Sunday evening in a 6-3 setback to the Allen Americans in front of 6,130 at the BOK Center. Allen forwards Chad Costello, Gary Steffes, and Jamie Schaafsma each recorded three points and both clubs set new season-highs for penalty minutes in their tenth meeting of the season. The Oilers have dropped four in a row on home ice and have lost seven of their last eight games against the Americans.

After a scoreless opening period, Allen defenseman Aaron Gens shoveled a rebound past Tulsa goalie Brady Hjelle at 7:31 of the second to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Less than two minutes later, the Oilers found the equalizer off the stick of one of their blue-liners. Dave Pszenyczny ripped a wrist shot over the blocker of Aaron Dell at 9:17 to level the score on his fourth goal of the season. At 12:14 the Oilers took their first, and only lead of the contest when Adam Pleskach located a loose puck between the circles and slid a shot through the legs of Dell. Pleskach's team-leading 17th goal of the season put Tulsa on top 2-1. Before the middle frame came to a close, the Americans got a pair of quick strikes to re-capture the advantage. Jamie Schaafsma scored on a power play at 16:58 and Gens sniped a snap shot from the far circle at 18:07 for his second goal of the period and his third goal in the last two games. The Oilers outshot the Americans 13-12 in the second period but trailed 3-2 heading into the third.

Costello, who had a pair of goals and the game-winner on Saturday in Allen, netted his 16th of the year off a rebound just 2:15 into the final frame. Schaafsma set up Steffes for another power play goal at 5:45 to give the Americans a 5-2 cushion. At the 9:00 mark of the third, Oilers center Steve Mele clipped Dell and tempers flared on both sides. Mele, Nathan Lutz, and Charles Lachance were all assessed misconducts for the Oilers while Jessey Astles and Garrett Clarke received misconducts for the Americans. Tulsa rookie Jeff Jubinville scored his second goal in as many nights at 13:22 to cut into the Allen lead, but the Americans three-goal advantage was quickly restored after Tyler Ludwig banked a shot off the back of Hjelle at 15:12.

The Oilers easily surpassed their previous season-high of 47 penalty minutes by finishing the night with 20 infractions for a total of 72 penalty minutes. The Americans ended up with 56 minutes on 16 penalties. Tulsa failed to score a power play goal for the fourth straight game and has allowed a power play goal in nine of its last 11 contests. Over the span of their five-game skid, the Oilers have been outscored 21-7.

Hjelle fell to 0-4-1 against Allen while Dell improved to 4-1-1 overall and 2-1-0 against Tulsa.

The Oilers return to the ice on Friday, December 26 at 7:05 p.m. for their sixth visit of the season to the Allen Event Center.

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