Oilers Weekly News and Notes
December 10, 2012 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Tulsa Oilers News Release
Week In Review: After winning two out of three during the previous weekend, the Oilers suffered four straight losses this week.
Tuesday at the BOK Center, the Oilers jumped out to a 2-0 lead against Missouri. The Mavericks scored five of the next six goals and went on to win 7-5. Tulsa's Ryan Menei chipped in three assists while Mavs forward Sebastien Thinel recorded one goal and three assists. The Oilers are now 1-1-0 against Missouri this season.
Tulsa traveled to Wichita on Friday for the third meeting of the season against the Thunder. Neil Trimm scored a natural hat-trick in the second period and the Thunder fired 35 shots on net as the Oilers were dealt a 6-2 defeat. Ryan Cramer scored both goals for the Oilers who have just one victory in their last eight trips to Intrust Bank Arena.
Back home on Saturday to host Bloomington, the Oilers were outscored 4-1 and outshot 18-4 in the first period. Over the next 40 minutes, the Blaze continued its offensive onslaught and went on to an 8-3 rout of the Oilers. Tulsa allowed a season-high 42 shots on net and surrendered eight goals in a single game for the second time this season. The five-goal margin was the Oilers second worst loss of the season and they fell to 0-3-0 on home ice against the Blaze.
The Oilers finished a stretch of seven games in ten days with a 1-0 loss in Fort Worth on Sunday. Both goaltenders posted impressive performances as Tulsa's Ian Keserich made 26 saves and Brahmas' netminder Brad Fogal stopped all 21 shots he faced. The Oilers were shutout for the first time this season and lost their fifth straight road game.
Trying To Close The Door: The Oilers have given up more goals than any other team in the Central Hockey League and have a league worst -30 goal differential. Over the last four contests, the Oilers opponents have combined to score 22 goals which is the highest number of goals the Oilers have given up in a four-game stretch since allowing 23 goals from March 1-5, 2011. Through 24 games, the Oilers have allowed 97 goals, their highest total since the 2008-09 campaign when they gave up 105 goals in the first 24 contests.
Keserich the Lone Star In Texas: Oilers goalie Ian Keserich always seems to bring his best when he faces the Fort Worth Brahmas at NYTEX Sports Center. The 26-year old only gave up one goal in Sunday's loss to the Brahmas and in his last six starts in the "Shoebox" Keserich has allowed only six goals while posting three shutouts and recording a .960 save percentage.
Road Work: When they travel to Bloomington on Friday, the Oilers will try to snap a streak of five straight losses away from home. Tulsa is 3-9-0 on the road this season and its last road victory came on November 10 in a 1-0 overtime win at Fort Worth. The Oilers will play four games in a row on the road before returning to the BOK Center on December 26.
Wingers Among CHL's Best: Tulsa wingers Ryan Menei and Ben Gordon each rank in the top ten in the CHL in scoring. Menei, in his first season as an Oiler, is fifth in the league with 26 points. The Winnipeg, Manitoba native leads Tulsa in points and assists (19) and has points in nine of the last 11 games. Gordon, tied for the team lead with 13 goals, is sixth in the CHL with 25 points has scored a goal in four of the last six contests.
Buvinow Bolsters Blue Line: Just before taking on Missouri on Tuesday night, the Oilers signed 22-year old defenseman Jeff Buvinow out of Brown University. Buvinow made his Oilers debut against the Mavericks and registered his first professional assist on Troy Ofukany's goal in the second period. A Turnersville, New Jersey native, Buvinow was named First Team All-Ivy League after his sophomore season at Brown in which he lead all Bears defensemen with 25 points. After his collegiate career, Buvinow suited up in ten games for the Trenton Titans (ECHL) and began the 2012-13 campaign with the Utah Grizzlies (ECHL) before landing in Tulsa.
Streaks and Milestones: Ryan Menei had a four-game point streak snapped on Sunday...Right wing Michel Beausoleil recorded his 200th assist as an Oiler on Saturday against Bloomington...Center Mike Ullrich played his 100th professional game on Saturday night against Bloomington...Defenseman Sean Erickson played his 200th game as an Oiler on Tuesday night...Center Troy Ofukany played his 200th professional game on Tuesday night...Head Coach Bruce Ramsay needs just three wins to reach 300 for his career.
Upcoming Games: The Oilers will play a pair of road games this weekend with their first and only visit of the season to Bloomington on Friday and a trip to Wichita on Saturday. Fans can watch and listen to both games at Gusano's Chicago-Style Pizzeria at 101st and Mingo in South Tulsa. Gusano's is the official home for every Oilers watch party this season.
Friday, December 14 at 7:05 p.m. - at Bloomington Blaze
- Fourth meeting of the season, Bloomington won each of the previous three contests at the BOK Center and has outscored the Oilers 19-10 in those games.
Saturday, December 15 at 7:05 p.m. - at Wichita Thunder
- Fourth meeting of the season, the Oilers are 1-2-0 against Wichita, all three games have been played at Intrust Bank Arena, Tulsa has just one win in its last eight trips to Wichita.
Central Hockey League Stories from December 10, 2012
- Shots from the Point for December 10, 2012 - CHL
- Mavericks Forward Andrew Courtney Named CHL Player of the Week - Kansas City Mavericks
- Missouri's Andrew Courtney Named Oakley CHL Player of the Week - CHL
- Cutthroats to Host Teddy Bear Toss on Saturday - Denver Cutthroats
- Mallards Weekly Update - Quad City Mallards
- Edge to Host Open Tryout Saturday - Bloomington Blaze
- Bloomington Blaze Weekly - Bloomington Blaze
- Oilers Weekly News and Notes - Tulsa Oilers
- Brahmas Weekly Update - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Rush Weekly - Rapid City Rush
- Allen Americans Weekly - Allen Americans
- Cutthroats Weekly Update - Denver Cutthroats
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