Strong Third Period Lifts Oilers Past Sundogs
December 16, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Tulsa Oilers News Release
PRESCOTT VALLEY, AZ - The Oilers stumbled early but finished with a flourish in a 4-3 comeback victory on Friday night over the Arizona Sundogs.
Tulsa spotted the home team a two-goal lead in the first period but cut the deficit in half with a Mike Ullrich powerplay goal late in the frame. For Ullrich, it's his league leading 14th goal of the season and his first in five games.
At the 7:21 mark of the second, Ryan Cramer pulled the Oilers even with a goal off a 2-on-1 rush. However, ten minutes later, Adam Smyth found an open lane in front of Tulsa goalie Mike Garman and one-timed a pretty feed from Luke Erickson into the back of the net. The Oilers found themselves down 3-2 after 40 minutes of play.
Somehow Dylan Clarke's wrist shot caught Sundogs netminder Scott Reid off-guard and at 9:39 of the third, the Oilers had their equalizer. The visitors then put together a string of good shifts and the hard work paid off when Gary Steffes feathered a pass through the crease to the stick of a waiting David Solway. The Oilers had the lead for the first time all night. Solway got his eighth goal of the year and pushed his league-leading point streak up to nine games. In that stretch, Solway has 15 points.
With Reid pulled for the final 1:28 and the Sundogs on a 6-on-4 powerplay, the Oilers penalty killers blocked shot after shot and held off a furious Arizona effort to preserve the victory. Mike Garman earned his second win of the season with 31 saves on 34 shots.
Tulsa has now won back to back games for the first time since November 18-19 and picked up its first road win in the last four tries.
The same two squads will face off tomorrow night as the Oilers will try to sweep the weekend series.
Tickets: Season tickets for the Oilers 20th season in the CHL are now on sale. More information is available by calling the Oilers office at (918) 632-PUCK (7825) or by visiting www.tulsaoilers.com.
Central Hockey League Stories from December 16, 2011
- Americans Score Three Unanswered, Beat Texas in OT - Allen Americans
- Bucks Fall to Rapid City - Laredo Bucks
- Late Third Period Goal Stings Sundogs in 4-3 Loss - Arizona Sundogs
- Strong Third Period Lifts Oilers Past Sundogs - Tulsa Oilers
- Mavs Lose to Mallards, 4-1 - Kansas City Mavericks
- Gems Can't Comeback Against Blaze, Fall 5-3 Friday Night - Dayton Gems
- Mallards Surge Past Missouri 4-1 - Quad City Mallards
- Solid Effort Propels Wichita to 4-1 Win Over Killer Bees - Wichita Thunder
- Brahmas Drop Third Straight in OT to Americans - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Blaze Win Fifth Straight Home Game - Bloomington Blaze
- Bees Can't Catch Wichita, Fall 4-1 - Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
- Allen Earns Top Spot on CHL Coaches Poll - CHL
- Gems Begin Three Game Weekend Series with Blaze - Dayton Gems
- Shots from the Point for December 16, 2011 - CHL
- Sundogs, McWhite's Surprise Children with Toys - Arizona Sundogs
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