Oilers' Three-Goal Lead Vanishes in Home Loss to Rush
December 30, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Tulsa Oilers News Release
TULSA, OK - The final memory of 2014 will not be a pleasant one for the Tulsa Oilers. In front of a crowd of 6,838, the second-highest attendance of the season, the Oilers let a 3-0 first period advantage slip away in a 5-3 setback to the Rapid City Rush. The Oilers were outscored 4-0 in the third period and suffered their seventh loss in the last eight games.
Through the first half of the first period it looked as though the Oilers were going to rout the Rush as they put up three goals in the span of four minutes. Jeff Jubinville got the scoring started at 5:07 by tipping a Nathan Lutz slap shot past Rush netminder Danny Battochio. At 7:54, Tommy Mele drove toward the Rapid City net from out of the corner and bounced a puck over the left pad of Battochio to give Tulsa a 2-0 edge. Less than two minutes later, Jubinville netted his second goal of the night on the power play when he snapped a shot over a fallen Battochio to give his squad what appeared to be a decisive 3-0 advantage. Jubinville, who had the first three-point night of his career in Allen last Friday, recorded his first multi-goal game as a pro. Battochio gave up three goals on just six shots and was replaced in net by Raphael Girard.
Rapid City began chipping away at the Oilers' lead at 3:14 of the second period. Daniel Barczuk stuffed a loose puck past Tulsa goalie Brady Hjelle for his sixth goal of the season to put the Rush on the board. The Oilers carried a 3-1 lead into the third period and carried a 7-0-2 record when leading after 40 minutes.
Former Oiler Sean Erickson brought the Rush within a goal when he tapped a puck past the goal line at 3:13 of the third period. Barczuk tied the game at 3-3 at 7:52 and the momentum stayed firmly on the side of the visitors for the remainder of the evening. A turnover in the Tulsa zone set up Rush forward Kyle Stroh for the go-ahead goal at 9:16 and J.P. Chabot scored the fifth unanswered Rapid City goal with a power play tip at 16:07. The Rush won for the second time in three visits to the BOK Center and tasted victory for just the second time this season when falling behind through two periods. Rapid City outshot Tulsa 20-8 in the final frame and 40--25 for the game.
Barczuk led Rapid City's offensive effort with two goals and an assist while Girard played the final 50 minutes of the game without a blemish on his record. After starting the night in a backup role, Girard made 19 saves on 19 shots and earned his second win of the season. Adam Pleskach assisted on all three of the Oilers goals and ended the night with a +2 rating as the Oilers dipped back below .500 (14-15-3) and lost for the fifth time in their last six home games. Hjelle turned aside 35 shots in his sixth loss of the season.
The Oilers went 1-for-4 on the power play and have now scored a power play goal in three consecutive contests. Rapid City finished 1-for-3 with the man-advantage and improved to 7-6-1 on the road.
The two sides will meet again on Saturday and Sunday at the BOK Center but up next for the Oilers is a battle against the Brampton Beast on Friday, January 2 at 4:05 p.m. on home ice.
ECHL Stories from December 30, 2014
- Sebastien Thinel Nets 1000th Career Point - Kansas City Mavericks
- Rush Score 5 Straight in Comeback Win - Rapid City Rush
- Oilers' Three-Goal Lead Vanishes in Home Loss to Rush - Tulsa Oilers
- 'Blades Slide by Glads, 3-1 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Walleye Unravel Beast 6-3 on Ugly Sweater Night - Brampton Beast
- Morrison, Stingrays Blank Road Warriors 5-0 - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Mike Little Comes up Big in Return as 'Blades Defeat Gwinnett 3-1 - Florida Everblades
- Stingrays Fly Past Road Warriors 5-0 - South Carolina Stingrays
- Rush Announce Recent Acquisitions - Rapid City Rush
- ECHL Transactions - December 30 - ECHL
- Condors Host Duck Dynasty Night and Welcome Mat Giveaway - Bakersfield Condors
- Mavericks Complete Multiple Transactions Ahead of Tuesday Night Game - Kansas City Mavericks
- Myles Bell Recalled by Albany Devils - Evansville IceMen
- ECHL Announces Suspension - ECHL
- Munroe Reassigned to K-Wings - Kalamazoo Wings
- Road Warriors Weekly Report - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- K-Wings and KIA to Create Largest Paint Canvas this Saturday - Kalamazoo Wings
- Little Returns to 'Blades; York Recalled to Syracuse - Florida Everblades
- Gladiators Sign Loewen - Atlanta Gladiators
- Preview: Warriors Clash with Stingrays in Final Game of 2014 - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Game Preview - Ontario Reign at Stockton Thunder - Ontario Reign
- We Paint the Ice Tonight vs. Ontario - Stockton Thunder
- Game Day Capsule: Missouri at Wichita - Wichita Thunder
- Komet Center Frazee Named ECHL Player of the Week - Fort Wayne Komets
- Fort Wayne's Frazee Named Sher-Wood Hockey ECHL Player of the Week - ECHL
- Gladiators Game Preview: Everblades at Gladiators - Atlanta Gladiators
- Sam Brittain Named CCM ECHL Goaltender of the Week - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Cincinnati's Brittain Named CCM ECHL Goaltender of the Week - ECHL
- Stingrays Game Preview: Stingrays and Road Warriors Collide for East-Division Points Tonight - South Carolina Stingrays
- ECHL Today - December 30 - ECHL
- Another Great Crowd Watches Grizzlies Beat Colorado - Utah Grizzlies
- Eagles Late Rally Not Enough as Grizzlies Win 3-2 - Colorado Eagles
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
