ECHL Tulsa Oilers

Oilers Hold off Thunder for Shootout Win

November 18, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Tulsa Oilers News Release


TULSA, OK - The Tulsa Oilers watched a three-goal lead disappear only to recover for a shootout victory over the Wichita Thunder on Tuesday night at the BOK Center. Tulsa surrendered a season-high 49 shots on net and was outgunned by Wichita 44-16 from the second period through the end of overtime. The Oilers improved to 3-1-0 against the Thunder with all three victories occurring on home ice.

Oilers center Jon Booras was nabbed for hooking at 6:24 of the first period and the Tulsa penalty kill unit was able to generate the first goal of the game. Matt Larke created a neutral zone turnover and fed a streaking Steve Mele who dipped around Thunder forward Danick Gauthier and slid the puck underneath Tim Boron. Mele, who found the back of the net for the third time in the last two games, scored the Oilers' third shorthanded goal of the season and gave the home squad a 1-0 edge at the 7:01 mark. The Oilers were unable to capitalize on an extended 5-on-3 at the midway point of the period but extended their lead in the closing minutes of the frame. Off a clean face-off win by Jeff Jubinville, Tulsa winger T.J. Caig rifled a one-timer over the shoulder of Boron to give the Oilers a 2-0 lead. Caig netted his eighth goal of the season and extended his team-high point streak to six games.

At 7:10 of the second period, Kyle O'Kane swatted a puck out of the corner to the front of the Wichita net where Jubinville was lurking and chipped a shot over Boron for his second goal of the season. Wichita began to cut into the deficit with seven minutes remaining in the middle frame. Kirill Tulopov cashed in on a Thunder power play to put the visitors on the board and Ian Lowe tallied just 45 seconds later to cut the Tulsa lead down to one.

The Oilers sustained their lead until late in third period when Thunder forward Kenton Miller stuffed a loose puck past Tulsa goalie Kevin Carr. Miller's fifth strike of the season capped off a run of three unanswered goals from the Thunder to force the game into overtime. Carr made four of his 46 saves in extra time and saved his best stops of the evening for the shootout.

Adam Pleskach and Caig, the first two shooters off the bench for Tulsa, were both able to beat Boron and Carr did the rest. The rookie netminder shutdown four straight Thunder attempts to seal the win and the extra point for the Oilers.

Jubinville, who missed Saturday's game due to injury, recorded his second multi-point game of the season and Carr improved his record to 6-3-1. Tulsa was 0-for-3 on the power play and gave up a power play goal for the third consecutive contest.

Tulsa visits Quad City on Wednesday night and will conclude a short, two-game road trip in Missouri on Friday.

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