Oilers Squeak by Tarantulas

December 6, 2004 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Topeka Tarantulas News Release


In hockey, there's only so much you can do to get the win. Eventually, it's going to just come down to the way the puck bounces. That's the lesson the Tarantulas learned the hard way tonight at Landon Arena, falling to the Tulsa Oilers 3-2 in a shootout.

"I'm disappointed that we didn't get the win, but on the other hand, our team put up a great effort. We gave 60 minutes tonight," said winger Lukas Dora.

The Spiders wanted to halt their two-game slide heading into Saturday's game and put themselves in position for a playoff run as the season edges toward the midway point.

Tulsa opened the scoring early in the second period with a goal by Jaroslav Cesky at 1:02, but Topeka was able to answer with two goals from recent addition, center Jonathan Dubois, to take a 2-1 lead. In his three games since joining the team Wednesday, Dubois has earned four points and ratcheted up the team's physical play a couple notches.

"It was a great team game. My goals were the result of my linemates getting the puck on the net," said Dubois. "I really like the team chemistry; I like walking into this locker room and being with these guys."

The Tarantulas' lead would stand until the 7:40 mark of the third period, when a goal by Tulsa forward Todd Marcellus evened the score.

Near the halfway point of the third, Head Coach Joe Coombs had to make a goalie change for the second night in a row. After stopping 25 of 27 shots, goalie Dwayne Bateman pulled himself out with a finger injury on his glove hand.

A scoreless overtime led to a shootout that took six shooters per side to settle, with Tulsa forward Klage Kaebel getting the clincher.

"You have to earn your breaks," said Coombs. "I thought we earned enough here tonight to win. They didn't deserve it. With a full squad, I think we beat that team."

The Tarantulas will get some much-needed rest and practice time over the next few days to try to get that full squad before heading to the road to face Lubbock on Friday. Opening face-off is at 7:05 p.m. and fans can listen to the game with Bob Rennison on KTOP 1490 AM.



Central Hockey League Stories from December 6, 2004


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