Oilers Ride Ward Hat Trick to Victory over Thunder
December 15, 2019 - ECHL (ECHL)
Tulsa Oilers News Release
TULSA, OK- The Oilers dominated the final frame, outshooting Wichita 22-4 in the third period, defeating the Thunder 5-3 at the BOK Center on Sunday.
Wichita scored in the opening minute for the second-straight night when Beau Starrett stuffed the puck under Olle Eriksson Ek's pad on the short side. Tulsa newcomer Cory Ward scored his first with the team, a top-shelf bomb created off a hustle play by J.J. Piccinich.
Peter Crinella broke the deadlock in the second period, ripping the puck over the blocker of Eriksson Ek 5:39 into the middle frame. Tulsa answered 21 seconds later with Mike McKee finding Charlie Sampair alone beneath the right-wing circle, allowing the forward to walk to the front of the net before roofing the puck in close. Crinella notched his second of the game off a one-time feed from the corner from Patrick Parkkonen with 1:20 remaining in the middle frame.
The Oilers entered the final frame trailing by a goal, something they haven't been able to overcome this season. Ward jumped on the Thunder early, pulling the puck from the end boards before squeezing it through Mitch Gillam, squaring the game up at 3-3 1:06 into the final frame. Exactly eight minutes later, Charlie Sampair ripped a puck from the slot that was gloved down by Gillam, but the puck slid to Ward who completed his hat trick by sliding the puck inside the post, giving the Oilers their first and final lead of the night. Jack Kopacka gave Tulsa some insurance, closing out the game at the 19:45 mark with an empty-net tally, his fourth goal in his five games with Tulsa.
Tulsa will host Utah on Thursday before traveling to Wichita on Friday and Kansas City on Saturday.
--
Oilers Season and Group Tickets are on sale now! Call the Oilers front office at 918-632-PUCK (7825) or visit www.tulsaoilers.com for more information.
Images from this story
Cory Ward of the Tulsa Oilers scores against the Wichita Thunder (Ed Bailey) |
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from December 15, 2019
- Americans Fall in Brampton - Allen Americans
- Oilers Ride Ward Hat Trick to Victory over Thunder - Tulsa Oilers
- Rays Emerge with Win from Wild Affair against IceMen - South Carolina Stingrays
- Thunder Falls in Tulsa to Close out Weekend - Wichita Thunder
- Brodzinski, May Score in Loss to Swamp Rabbits - Orlando Solar Bears
- Beast Clap Back to End Two-Game Losing Streak - Brampton Beast
- Greenville Snaps Slump with Breakout Win over Solar Bears - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Blaney Scores, But Wings Fall to 'Clones in Return Home - Kalamazoo Wings
- Cyclones Bounce Back with Matinee Win in the Zoo - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Royals Head into Holiday Break with 4-1 Loss at Railers - Reading Royals
- North Grafton Native Ian Milosz Collects Win in Net for Worcester 4-1 over Reading - Worcester Railers HC
- ECHL Transactions - December 15 - ECHL
- Swavely Recalled Before Puck Drop Sunday - Reading Royals
- Forward Mikael Hakkarainen Reassigned to Rockford - Indy Fuel
- Game Preview: Solar Bears at Swamp Rabbits - Orlando Solar Bears
- Cyclones Game Preview: vs. Kalamazoo - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Back End of a Three-In-Three Before Long Break - Reading Royals
- Americans Win First Shootout of the Season - Allen Americans
- Rush Comeback Falls Short in Defeat - Rapid City Rush
- Oilers Can't Come Away with Win on Teddy Bear Toss Night - Tulsa Oilers
- Steelheads Finish Homestand with 5-4 Win over Fort Wayne - Idaho Steelheads
- Everblades Earn Hard-Fought Point on Teddy Bear Toss - Florida Everblades
- Grizz Win 3-2 on Star Wars Night - Utah Grizzlies
- Walleye Erase Three-Goal Deficit, Defeat Cyclones in OT - Toledo Walleye
- Nailers Complete Three-Game Sweep in Rapid City - Wheeling Nailers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.