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CHL Tulsa Oilers

Tulsa Oilers Playoff News and Notes

April 14, 2014 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Tulsa Oilers News Release


Last Week's Games:

Playoff Game 3 - Wed. Apr. 9 at Denver Cutthroats (3-2 OTL)

Playoff Game 4 - Fri. Apr. 11 at Denver Cutthroats (6-2 W)

Playoff Game 5 - Sat. Apr. 12 at Denver Cutthroats (1-0 L)

Upcoming Games:

Playoff Game 6 - Tue. Apr. 15 vs. Denver Cutthroats - 7:05 p.m.

Playoff Game 7 - Thurs. Apr. 17 at Denver Cutthroats - 8:00 p.m. (if necessary)

Week In Review: The Oilers began a set of three games in Denver last Wednesday with Game 3 of their first round series against the Cutthroats. The two sides combined for three goals in the final four and a half minutes of regulation and headed into overtime tied at 2-2. Tulsa outshot Denver 9-3 in the extra session but it was Cutthroats' forward J.P. Chabot who tipped in the game-winning goal at 12:18 to give the Fish a 3-2 win and a 2-1 series lead. In Game 4 on Friday, the Oilers scored four goals on their first 14 shots and chased Denver goalie Kent Patterson from the net after the first period. Matthew Larke recorded a goal and three assists to the lead the Oilers offensive onslaught and Shane Madolora made 35 stops as the Oilers cruised to a 6-2 victory. Patterson bounced back in Saturday's Game 5 by making 52 saves and shutting out the Oilers in a 1-0 Cutthroats triumph. A.J. Gale scored the lone goal of the contest on a first period Denver power play.

Watch Party: If the Oilers force a Game 7, you can catch every minute of the action at the Oilers official watch party at Fox and Hound (71st and Garnett) at 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 17. Bring your family and friends and join your fellow Oilers fans at the only place in town to watch CHL playoff hockey! Get loud and show your Oilers pride as Tulsa battles Denver for a spot in the second round!

On The Brink: The Cutthroats hold a 3-2 series lead over the Oilers with Game 6 slated for Tuesday night at the BOK Center. If Tulsa can earn a victory on Tuesday, the series will shift back to Denver for decisive Game 7 on Thursday at the Denver Coliseum. All-time, the Oilers are 12-9 in playoff elimination games and have a 3-1 record in Game 6.

Blanked: The 1-0 setback in Game 5 was the Oilers first playoff shutout loss since April 12, 2000 when they suffered a 7-0 setback to the Indianapolis Ice in deciding Game 5 of their first round series. Tulsa fired a season-high 52 shots at Denver goalie Kent Patterson including 21 shots in the third period. Ben Gordon recorded a CHL playoff-high 11 shots in a losing effort.

First Strike: The team scoring the first goal has won four of the five games in the series. Tulsa was able to overcome a 2-0 deficit in the first period of Game 1 and only drew first blood in Game 4. During the regular season, the Oilers were 21-11-1 when striking first.

Frequent Fire: Through five games of the series, the Oilers are averaging 37 shots, third most among all CHL playoff teams. Tulsa has fired 30 shots or more in four of the five games and forward Ben Gordon leads the league with 31 postseason shots. The Oilers have outshot the Cutthroats in four of the five contests going 1-3 in those outings.

Low Power: The Oilers are just 1-for-21 on the power play in the series against Denver, the lowest success rate of any team in the postseason. Denver is 3-for-20 on its power play opportunities and has scored on the man-advantage in just two of the five previous games.

D-Man Debuts: Amateur defenseman Mackenzie Johnston made his professional debut on Saturday night and registered two shots on goal in the Oilers 1-0 loss. A 6-foot-2, 201-pound blue-liner out of Swift Current Saskatchewan, Johnston dressed as the seventh Tulsa defenseman in Game 5.

Spreading The Wealth: Through five games of the series against Denver, nine of the 11 forwards on the Oilers playoff roster have registered at least one goal. Fifteen of the Oilers 17 skaters have notched at least one point with Ben Gordon, Ryan Menei, and Adam Pleskach tied for the team lead with five points apiece.

Playing From Behind: In five games, a total of 312 minutes, the Oilers have held the lead for just over 60 minutes. Tulsa has only trailed by two goals on two occasions (first period of Game 1, third period of Game 2) and has only fallen behind after the first period in Game 5.

Thin Margins: The Oilers have a 14-13 edge in goals over the Cutthroats and are the only team in the playoffs to trail their first round series while leading in goal differential.

Goals Galore: With six pucks finding their way into the net in Game 4, the Oilers recorded their highest goal total in a playoff game since April 1, 2005 in a 7-3 win over the Colorado Eagles in a first round series.

Oil Drops: Michel Beausoleil played in the first four games of the series but sat out in Game 5 as the Oilers dressed nine forwards and seven defensemen in his absence...Shane Madolora boasts a 2.52 goals against average, fourth-best among all CHL playoff netminders...Tulsa is 3-4 all-time in best-of-seven playoff series and has not won a best-of-seven series since defeating the Oklahoma City Blazers in the 1994 CHL semi-finals.

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