CHL Tulsa Oilers

Oilers-Wichita Preview

March 4, 2006 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Tulsa Oilers News Release


Playoff Fever: The Tulsa Oilers and Wichita Thunder square off tonight in the Thunder's final regular season visit to Tulsa.

Records: Oilers are 27-23-4 with 58 points in fourth place in the Northwest Division. Wichita is 29-17-7 with 65 points in third place in the Northwest Division.

Season Series: Tonight is the 11th of 12 meetings between the two teams. The Oilers are 5-4-1 against Wichita this season. Wichita is also 5-4-1 against the Oilers. The most recent meeting between the two teams was on February 26th in Wichita, and the Thunder won that contest, 6-3.

Recent Action: The Oilers dropped a lopsided 7-1 decision last night at home to Oklahoma City. Wichita surrendered a goal with just 49 seconds left in regulation time last night, and wound up losing in a shootout to Fort Worth, 3-2.

Playoff Update: While the Oilers, Wichita and Oklahoma City remain in a heated battle for two available Northern Conference playoff spots, other teams can now make postseason plans. Last night, Colorado clinched a playoff spot, by virtue of its 5-4 shootout win in Lubbock. Bossier-Shreveport had previously secured a playoff bid, as it has already clinched the Northeast Division title. In the Southern conference, Laredo beat Corpus Christi 2-1 in a shootout last night to clinch the Southeast Division title.

What Am I Bid?: Following tonight's game, the Oilers will be holding an auction for the team's maroon jerseys that have been the home jerseys for the second half of the season. Fans who are successful bidders will receive their jerseys at the end of the season.

Still Streaking: Jaroslav Cesky played his first game last night since suffering a broken arm against Wichita on February 11th. He picked up right where he left off, getting an assist on the lone Oilers goal. That gives him a point in 15 straight games he's played. He has 14 goals and 16 assist in that stretch. Jim Dahl also got an assist last night, stretching his point streak to 14 games, with eight goals and 17 assists.

30...30...30?: Henry Kuster scored his 29th goal of the season last night. He needs one more to join Dahl and Cesky in the 30-goal club. If he does, ti will mark the first time since 1993-94 the Oilers had three 30-goal scorers. That season Luc Beausoleil (64), Sean Whyte (42), and Taylor Hall (33) all hit that plateau.

Next Up: The Oilers continue their five game homestand next Friday against the Austin Ice Bats at 7:35 p.m. Wichita visits Colorado on Wednesday.

Check out the Tulsa Oilers Statistics



Central Hockey League Stories from March 4, 2006


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.

OurSports Central