Oilers Stumble in Wichita, Drop Third Straight
March 14, 2014 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Tulsa Oilers News Release
WICHITA, KS - The offensive consistency that fueled the Tulsa Oilers recent run of success has suddenly gone missing. The Oilers managed only one goal and 23 shots in a 4-1 loss to the Wichita Thunder on Friday night at INTRUST Bank Arena. Tulsa has lost three games in a row and has scored just three goals in its last three outings.
Wichita forward Matt Robinson, who returned to the Thunder lineup on Friday after missing four consecutive games, put his team in front at the 10:57 mark of the first period. Robinson received a pass from Jon Booras in the middle of the Oilers zone and deked around Tulsa goalie Shane Madolora to bury his team-leading 24th goal of the season. The Oilers have allowed their opponent to strike first in four straight games. The Thunder extended its lead to 2-0 at 16:54 of the opening frame thanks to a backhand from Matt Summers. Jon Madden's slap shot caromed off the end boards to the side of the Tulsa net and Summers roofed the puck over Madolora before the netminder was able to slide over to seal the post.
Neither side was able to manufacture any offense in the second period and Wichita's 2-0 advantage carried over into the third.
Ryan Menei gave the Oilers life and cut the deficit in half at 3:47 of the final frame when he slid a rebound past David Brown for his 14th goal of the season. The Tulsa momentum lasted only 62 seconds. Nick McParland cranked a wrist shot off the post and the puck bounced right to the tape of Erik Lizon who snapped it right through a sprawling Madolora to restore Wichita's two-goal advantage. Robinson sealed the victory on an empty net breakaway in the closing seconds to give his squad its fourth victory in ten meetings against the Oilers. Tulsa fell in Wichita for the first time this season and is 6-3-1 overall against the Thunder.
Tulsa remains in seventh place in the CHL standings and is now seven points up on Wichita with eight games remaining in the regular season. The two clubs will continue the StoneWolf Casino Cup series tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. at INTRUST Bank Arena.
Central Hockey League Stories from March 14, 2014
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- Arseneau's Hat Trick Propels Cutthroats Past Mallards - Quad City Mallards
- Mavericks Edge the Beast in Brampton - Kansas City Mavericks
- Robinson Returns with Two-Goal Performance in Win over Oilers - Wichita Thunder
- Oilers Stumble in Wichita, Drop Third Straight - Tulsa Oilers
- Americans Face Rush Tonight in a Big Weekend for Allen - Allen Americans
- Shots from the Point for March 14, 2014 - CHL
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