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Oilers move into first place in Central Division

December 1, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release


Going 2-1-1 in their four games last week, the Tulsa Oilers moved into first place in the Central Division with an overall record of 10-5-3 for 23 points.

The Oilers began their busy week with a 3-1 loss to Allen on Tuesday before rebounding to earn a point in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Americans on Thanksgiving. T.J. Caig led the way offensively with three assists, while goaltender Brady Hjelle was the main key for the Oilers picking up a point as he turned aside 51 of 55 Allen shots in regulation and overtime.

The next night, the Oilers returned to the win column with a 3-2 win on home ice over Quad City. Kyle O'Kane, Drew Fisher and Dave Pszenyczny scored for Tulsa and Kevin Carr was strong in net, as he stopped 36 Mallards' shots to record the win.

Tulsa's week ended with a 3-2 shootout win at Wichita on Sunday. Steve Mele and Jon Booras tallied during regulation and Caig and Fisher scored in the shootout to give the Oilers the win. Carr stopped 23 of shots through overtime, and all four shots he faced in the shootout, to pick up the win.

The Oilers feature one of the league's best offenses, ranking fourth with 3.72 goals per game. Adam Pleskach ranks third in the ECHL with 11 goals while Booras is tied for fifth with 22 points (9g-13a). Caig also ranks in amongst the league leaders as his 19 points (9g-10a) are tied for 10th. Scott Macaulay has added an element of offense from the blueline for Tulsa as his 15 points (2g-13a) are tied for second among ECHL defensemen.

Carr has provided strong play in goal for Tulsa as he leads the league in wins (10), saves (444) and minutes played (941).

Tulsa has another busy week ahead as it plays four games in five days, including three games against Allen, which is just one point behind the Oilers for first place in the Central Division. The Oilers host the Americans on Tuesday and Friday, visit Allen on Wednesday and close out the week by visiting Missouri on Saturday.

Closing in on history

Kalamazoo's Sam Ftorek is closing in on ECHL history. Ftorek, who celebrated his 40th birthday yesterday, has appeared in all 17 games for the K-Wings this season, giving him 784 games played in his ECHL career. He is within five games of tying the League's all-time record of 789 held by Louis Dumont, who will be inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame next month. If he plays in each of Kalamazoo's upcoming games, Ftorek will set the new ECHL record for career games played on Dec. 13 at Toledo.

A look ahead

Games to watch in the ECHL during the week ahead. Watch ECHL games live on ECHL.TV.

Eastern Conference

Orlando at Greenville (Thursday and Friday)

The Solar Bears play the final two games of their 13-game, 25-day road trip while the Road Warriors return home after their own eight-game road trip. Orlando is in third place of the East Division, just two points ahead of fourth-place Greenville.

Western Conference

Bakersfield at Idaho (Wednesday, Friday and Saturday)

The Pacific Division is the tightest of the ECHL's four divisions, making this three-game series in Boise all the more important. The Steelheads lead the division with 24 points, with the Condors sitting just one behind as part of a three-way tie for second place.

Divisions

North Division

- Byron Froese is on a seven-game point streak (5g-7a).

- The Cyclones have outscored their opponents 25-11 in the second period.

- Cincinnati hosts Utah on Wednesday, Fort Wayne on Friday and Kalamazoo on Saturday.

- Chris Driedger is tied for the league lead with two shutouts.

- Evansville is 5-0-0 when leading after one period.

- The IceMen are at Indy on Wednesday and host Kalamazoo on Friday.

- Garrett Meurs is on a three-game goal streak (4g).

- The Komets are 7-0-0 when allowing fewer than 25 shots in a game.

- Fort Wayne visits Cincinnati on Friday and Indy on Saturday.

- Matt S. White is tied for first among rookies with two shorthanded goals.

- Indy is fourth on the power play at 22.4 percent (15-for-67).

- The Fuel host Evansville on Wednesday, Florida on Friday and Fort Wayne on Saturday.

- Mike DiPaolo scored his first pro goal on Saturday against Toledo.

- The K-Wings are 5-2-0 when outshooting their opponent.

- Kalamazoo hosts Florida on Wednesday and is at Evansville on Friday and Cincinnati on Saturday.

- Jeff Lerg is tied for fifth with eight wins.

- Toledo has scored at least six goals in each of its last three games.

- The Walleye are at Reading on Thursday and Elmira on Saturday.

- Eric Hartzell made a career-high 40 saves in a 3-2 win against Florida on Saturday.

- The Nailers are second on the power play at home at 32.1 percent (9-for-28).

- Wheeling hosts Utah on Friday and Saturday and is at Brampton on Sunday.

East Division

- Sam Marotta is second among rookie goaltenders with a 1.95 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage.

- Elmira leads the league with eight home wins.

- The Jackals host South Carolina on Friday, Toledo on Saturday and Wichita on Sunday.

- Cameron Burt is tied for second in the league in plus-minus at +12.

- The Everblades are second with 2.44 goals-against per game.

- Florida is at Kalamazoo on Wednesday and Indy on Friday.

- Shawn O'Donnell set an ECHL season-high on Saturday with a +6 rating against Reading.

- Six of Greenville's 11 wins have come when trailing at some point in the game.

- The Road Warriors host Orlando on Thursday and Friday.

- Casey Pierro-Zabotel leads Gwinnett with eight goals.

- The Gladiators are 4-1-1 when scoring first.

- Gwinnett is idle until Dec. 9.

- Kent Patterson had a shutout streak of 151:10 snapped on Sunday at Kalamazoo.

- Orlando is 8-3-0 on its 13-game road trip, which ends this week.

- The Solar Bears are at Greenville on Thursday and Friday.

- Cam Reid has at least one point in 14 of Reading's 17 games this season.

- The Royals are the league's least-penalized team with 12.53 penalty minutes per game.

- Reading hosts Toledo on Thursday and South Carolina on Saturday and Sunday.

- Braden Pimm has scored a goal in three consecutive games.

- South Carolina is fourth with 26.50 shots-against per game.

- The Stingrays are at Elmira on Friday and Reading on Saturday and Sunday.

Central Division

- Jack Combs had his 14-game point streak snapped on Saturday at Wichita.

- The Americans are second with 4.13 goals per game.

- Allen travels to Tulsa on Tuesday and Friday and hosts the Oilers on Wednesday and Missouri on Sunday.

- Jason Pitton leads the Beast with five goals.

- Brampton is 5-0-1 in one-goal games.

- The Beast host Wichita on Friday and Saturday and Wheeling on Sunday.

- Martin Lee is tied for second among defensemen with three power-play goals.

- The Mavericks are 3-0-0 in games decided in overtime or a shootout.

- Missouri hosts Quad City on Tuesday and Tulsa on Saturday before visiting Allen on Sunday.

- Logan Nelson scored his first pro goal on Saturday against Missouri.

- Quad City is third with 33.24 shots per game.

- The Mallards are at Missouri on Tuesday and Rapid City on Friday and Saturday.

- Jesse Schultz leads Rapid City with 18 points (6g-12a).

- The Rush have killed 23 of their opponents' last 27 power-play opportunities.

- Rapid City hosts Quad City on Friday and Saturday.

- Steve Mele is tied for third among rookies with a 23.5 percent shooting percentage (4-for-17).

- Tulsa is tied for the league lead with four shorthanded goals.

- The Oilers host Allen on Tuesday and Friday and visit the Americans on Wednesday and Missouri on Saturday.

- Danick Gauthier has scored four of his eight goals on the power play.

- The Thunder are second in the league with 25.22 shots-against per game.

- Wichita visits Brampton on Friday and Saturday and Elmira on Sunday.

Pacific Division

- Niklas Lundstrom is 6-1-0 with a .927 save percentage in his last seven games.

- Alaska is 8-0-0 when leading after two periods.

- The Aces are at Stockton on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

- Brendan Brooks had five points (3g-2a) in two games last week

- The Condors had a total of 16,710 fans over their last two home games, a team record for consecutive games.

- Bakersfield is at Idaho on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

- Clarke Saunders leads the league with a 1.60 goals-against average.

- Colorado is 7-1-0 when outshooting its opponent.

- The Eagles are at Ontario on Friday and Saturday.

- Henri Kiviaho posted a 2.32 goals-against average in November.

- The Steelheads are 28-for-31 (90.3 percent) on the penalty kill over their last eight games.

- Idaho is at Utah on Monday and hosts Bakersfield on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

- Alex Roach is tied for first among rookies in plus-minus at +8.

- Ontario leads the league with 2.25 goals-against per game.

- The Reign host Colorado on Friday and Saturday.

- Shane Owen is second with 397 saves.

- The Thunder are second on the power play at 23.1 percent (18-for-78).

- Stockton hosts Alaska on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

- Vinny Scarsella has three goals in his last four games and has scored eight of his 12 points this year on the power-play.

- Twelve of Utah's 17 games have been decided by one goal.

- The Grizzlies host Idaho on Monday and are at Cincinnati on Wednesday and Wheeling on Friday and Saturday.

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