Oilers Streak Snapped in 6-1 Setback to Thunder
November 12, 2013 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Tulsa Oilers News Release
TULSA, OK - Six days after routing the Thunder on home ice, the Tulsa Oilers found themselves on the opposite end of a one-sided affair. Tulsa (4-6-2) gave up its highest goal total of the season and suffered its worst margin of defeat this year in a 6-1 loss to Wichita on Tuesday night at the BOK Center.
Thunder rookie forward Nick McParland started the onslaught at 8:18 of the first period when he skated underneath a lob pass from Jason Wilson and sped unimpeded into the Oilers zone. McParland neatly tucked the puck between the toe of Oilers goalie Shane Madolora and the post to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Five minutes later, on their only power play of the night, the Thunder extended their advantage thanks to a quick wrist shot from between the circles off the stick of Matt Robinson. Wichita carried a 2-0 edge into the second period.
With the Oilers on a power play to start the middle frame, Thunder defenseman Travis Wight chipped the puck up the boards and moved in uncontested on Madolora. Wight was grabbed from behind by Oilers center Todd Robinson and immediately awarded a penalty shot. His one-on-one attempt was stopped by Madolora but just 45 seconds later, the Thunder would get its shorthanded tally off the stick of R.G. Flath. The veteran forward re-directed a Jared Walker pass over Madolora to push the score to 3-0 with only 1:01 off the second period clock. Flath's goal chased Madolora from the net and the Oilers second-year netminder made eight saves on 11 shots in 21 minutes of action. McParland notched his second goal of the evening at 4:38 when he slid a shot underneath Ross MacKinnon to extend the Wichita lead to 4-0. Adam Pleskach, reigning CHL Player of the Week, provided the lone bright spot for the Oilers with a second period power play goal. Pleskach leads the Oilers with seven goals and 13 points and extended his point streak to seven games. Tulsa's momentum was short-lived as Robinson connected for his second goal of the night at 13:45 to send the Thunder into the second intermission with a 5-1 lead.
The Oilers put up 15 shots in the the third period but failed to solve Thunder goalie Taylor Nelson who finished the contest with 37 saves and earned his second victory of the season. Walker scored the only goal of the third period to seal Wichita's first regulation win of the season and snap an eight-game losing streak. The Thunder did all of its offensive damage on only 23 shots and scored more goals on Tuesday than in their five previous games combined. The Oilers saw their four-game win streak stopped and fell to 3-5-0 at the BOK Center.
The rivals will meet again in Wichita for a pair of games on Friday and Saturday. The season series now stands at 1-1.
Central Hockey League Stories from November 12, 2013
- Oilers Streak Snapped in 6-1 Setback to Thunder - Tulsa Oilers
- Thunder Ends Skid with Convincing 6-1 Win at Tulsa - Wichita Thunder
- Owen Named Repeat Oakley CHL Goaltender of the Week - Kansas City Mavericks
- Missouri's Shane Owen Named Oakley CHL Player of the Week - CHL
- Denver Cutthroats Honor Granite Mountain Hotshots - Denver Cutthroats
- David 'The Caveman' Rickels to Drop Puck at Saturday's Game vs. Tulsa - Wichita Thunder
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