Oilers-RiverKings Preview
March 18, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Tulsa Oilers News Release
*Home Finale:* The Tulsa Oilers play the final home game of their first season in the BOK Center tonight, hosting the Mississippi RiverKings.
*Records: *Oilers are 18-35-8 with 44 points in fourth place in the Northeast Division.
Mississippi is 42-16-3 for 87 points and has clinched first place in the Northeast Division.
*Season Series: *This is the seventh of eight meetings between these two teams. Mississippi has won five of the previous six meetings. The Oilers win was 3-2 in a shootout at the BOK Center on January 17^th , so Tulsa is 1-5-0 in the head to head match-up. Mississippi is 5-0-1. Mississippi won the most recent match up 5-4 in Tulsa on March 6^th .
*Recent Action: *The Oilers finished a three game road trip, playing three games in three states in two and half days, losing 2-1 at New Mexico on Sunday afternoon. Mississippi gave up two goals early in the third period last night, and lost 5-4 to Bossier-Shreveport.
*Close Calls:* It wasn't unusual that the last games for each of these teams (and the last time they met) were decided by one goal. The Oilers have played six straight one goal games, going 2-4-0 in that stretch. Seven of their last eight games have been one goal contests. Mississippi has played four straight one goal games, going 2-2-0 in that stretch.
*Hot Hodge: *Center Brendon Hodge has had the hot hand for the Oilers lately. He scored the overtime game winning goal Saturday, and had the club's only goal on Sunday. That goal gave him a goal in three straight games.
*Busy As A Bee: *Goaltender Kevin St. Pierre had another busy day Sunday, stopping 50 shots. It was the fourth time this season, he has made at least 50 saves in a game. St. Pierre ranks third in the CHL in the number of saves, while ranking ninth in minutes played.
*Next Up: *The Oilers will conclude the season with two road games. They play at Wichita against the Thunder at 7:05 p.m. on Friday. They will then travel to Mississippi to wrap up the season against the RiverKings Saturday at 7:05 p.m. Mississippi plays at Bossier-Shreveport Friday before returning home to wrap up the season against the Oilers on Saturday. This will be the third time in the past six seasons, the Oilers have concluded the regular season on the road against the RiverKings.
Central Hockey League Stories from March 18, 2009
- Odessa/Laredo Semifinals Series Finalized - Laredo Bucks
- Bucks Clinch Third Seed, Ruskowski Gets 500th Win - Laredo Bucks
- RiverKings Rebound for 6-4 Win at Tulsa - Mississippi RiverKings
- Thunder's Comeback Erased by Rush - Wichita Thunder
- Jeff Lund Wins CHL Rick Kozuback Award - CHL
- Scorpions Celebrate Their Season This Weekend - New Mexico Scorpions
- Ftorek to attempt 72-oz. steak challenge - Amarillo Gorillas
- Thoring On IR, Grosul Signed - Colorado Eagles
- 2009 Playoff Tickets On Sale Friday - Colorado Eagles
- Gorillas' Sutter wins CHL Man of the Year Award - Amarillo Gorillas
- Former Sundog Mike Vernace Makes NHL Debut with Colorado - Arizona Sundogs
- Amarillo's Austin Sutter Named CHL Man of the Year - CHL
- Rush Contest to Hit the Pavement - Rapid City Rush
- Jacks Announce Ticket Specials for Playoffs and Last Two Games - Odessa Jackalopes
- Oilers-RiverKings Preview - Tulsa Oilers
- Brahmas Take South's Top Spot - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Bucks Host Brahmas Tonight As Ruskowski Looks For 500th Win - Laredo Bucks
- Blazers Complete Season Sweep Over Rush - Rapid City Rush
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