Oilers Earn Point in Shootout Loss to Brahmas
December 27, 2012 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Tulsa Oilers News Release
TULSA, OK - The Tulsa Oilers went eight consecutive games without earning a point, but snapped the streak on Thursday night at the BOK Center in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Fort Worth Brahmas. The shootout, which lasted six rounds and ended with Sy Nutkevitch's game-winning goal, was the first of the season for the Oilers and they became the last team in the Central Hockey League to participate in a shootout.
Down 3-1 early in the second period, Oilers Head Coach Bruce Ramsay lifted goaltender Dan Bakala in favor of Shane Madolora and the tide slowly began to turn for Tulsa. Ben Gordon picked up his team-high 16th goal of the season when he scored from the top of the crease at 9:13 of the second to pull the Oilers back within one. Less than two minutes later, Mike Ullrich was awarded a penalty shot and the second year center made no mistake with his breakaway opportunity. Ullrich, attempting the first penalty shot of the season for any Oilers player, snapped the puck over the blocker of Brahmas netminder Kristofer Westblom to even the score at 3-3.
Five minutes into the third period, Michel Beausoleil made it three straight Tulsa tallies when he fired a shot through the legs of Westblom to give the Oilers their first lead of the evening. Jon Snowden, playing in just his third game as a member of the Brahmas, brought the visitors back with a quick wrist shot from the high slot at 13:29 and beat Madolora for the first time in the contest.
The 4-4 stalemate continued through overtime, and with each side earning a point, the game was ultimately decided by the shootout. Two of Fort Worth's first three shooters found the back of the net, but Beausoleil and Gary Steffes answered back with goals for Tulsa. Ryan Cramer had an opportunity to give the Oilers a lead but he was robbed by the glove hand of Westblom and that save set up an opportunity for Nutkevitch to seal the game. The Brahmas center waited on Madolora to go down and slid the puck past the goalie's outstretched pad and inside the near post to earn two points for Fort Worth.
The Brahmas, playing with only 11 skaters for most of the night, have won four straight against the Oilers and picked up just their fourth road victory of the season. Tulsa dropped to 5-5-3 at home and recorded it's first point since a 4-3 home win over Arizona on December 2.
Ullrich and forward Ryan Menei each finished the night with a goal and an assist while Snowden took home first star honors by posting a goal and two assists.
The Oilers are back on BOK Center ice on Friday evening at 7:35 p.m. when they host the Quad City Mallards. Tulsa players will wear special retro jerseys as part of Turn Back the Clock Weekend.
Central Hockey League Stories from December 27, 2012
- Oilers Earn Point in Shootout Loss to Brahmas - Tulsa Oilers
- Shorthanded Brahmas Outlast Oilers in Shootout - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Oilers Pinstripe Jersey Making a Comeback this Weekend - Tulsa Oilers
- Lizon Called up to AHL's Oklahoma City Barons - Wichita Thunder
- Rush Fall Short in Wild One Versus Cutthroats - Rapid City Rush
- Cutthroats Win Wild One over Rapid City, 5-4 - Denver Cutthroats
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