ECHL Tulsa Oilers

Oilers Skid Reaches Three Games with 7-3 Loss to Mavericks

Published on February 10, 2015 under ECHL (ECHL)
Tulsa Oilers News Release


INDEPENDENCE, MO - On the heels of back-to-back home losses, the Tulsa Oilers were overwhelmed by the Missouri Mavericks in a 7-3 setback on Tuesday evening at the Independence Events Center. Missouri forwards Lindsay Sparks and Andrew Courtney each scored twice to lead the offensive effort and goaltender Mike Clemente turned aside 37 Tulsa shots as the Mavericks improved to 6-1-0 against the Oilers this season.

An energized Mavericks squad outshot the Oilers 9-1 over the first seven minutes of the first period and cashed in on the game's first power play. With Tulsa defenseman Jake Obermeyer in the box for roughing, Missouri forward Andrew Courtney re-directed a Landon Oslanski slap shot past Brandon Anderson to give the home side a 1-0 edge. Courtney, the Mavs' leader in power play goals, found the net for the 15th time this season and notched his second goal against the Oilers. An interference call against Kevin Noble put Missouri back on the man-advantage at 15:24 and once again, the league's lowest rated power play unit was able to burn the Oilers. Jack Downing slid a pass to a wide open Ryley Grantham who chipped a shot over the shoulder of Anderson for a 2-0 Mavericks lead.

At 5:40 of the second period, Tulsa winger Matt Larke was finally able to squeeze a wrist shot through Clemente for his sixth goal of the season. The Mavericks regained control almost immediately as Sparks broke in all alone on Anderson and roofed a backhand to restore Missouri's two-goal cushion only 26 seconds after the tally by Larke. Six minutes later, Mavs forward Josh Brittain was denied by Anderson at close range but reeled in a rebound and lifted a shot past the sprawling netminder for a 4-1 advantage. Just 21 seconds after Brittain's 16th of the season, Sparks found himself on another breakaway. As Anderson came out aggressively to challenge, Sparks ripped a shot into the net for his second strike of the period. A string of three unanswered goals gave Missouri a massive 5-1 lead. The Oilers scored their third 5-on-3 power play goal of the season when T.J. Caig finished off a nifty passing play to bring Tulsa back within three. Once again, Missouri found a fast answer as a shot from Courtney clanked off the post an into the net at 16:31 and the Mavs held a 6-2 lead at the end of the middle frame.

Oilers' center Kyle Bochek snapped out of a four-game point drought with his second goal of the season at 4:15 of the third but Tulsa was unable to continue to chip away at the deficit. Missouri captain Sebastien Thinel put the finishing touches on the victory with his 13th goal of the season at 17:36 and helped his squad secure its fifth win in the last seven games.

Missouri went 2-for-5 on the power play and the Oilers have now surrendered multiple power play goals in three consecutive contests. Tulsa has dropped six of its last eight games, and thanks to Rapid City's victory over Brampton on Tuesday, the Oilers fell out of fourth place in the Central Division. Anderson finished his outing with 28 saves and defenseman Ricards Birzinsh, back in the lineup after missing the last four games, led the Oilers with a pair of assists.

Tulsa travels to Quad City on Friday, February 13 at 7:05 p.m. before returning to the BOK Center on Valentine's Day for a 7:35 p.m. tilt with the Mallards.

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