ECHL Tulsa Oilers

Tulsa Power Play Comes Alive in 5-3 Win over Rapid City

Published on January 10, 2015 under ECHL (ECHL)
Tulsa Oilers News Release


RAPID CITY, SD - For the second time this season, the Tulsa Oilers scored three power play goals in a single game and used their special teams success to earn a 5-3 win over the Rapid City Rush on Saturday night at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. Jon Booras netted a pair of power play goals as the Oilers concluded their three-game swing in South Dakota with five of a possible six points (2-0-1).

The power play was a factor for both sides in the opening period and Tulsa center Jon Booras put the Oilers up 1-0 at 4:24 with a power play goal for his 15th tally of the season. Booras re-directed a slap shot from Dave Pszenyczny that bounced off the ice and behind Rapid City goalie John Griggs. For the third consecutive game, the Oilers drew first blood against the Rush. Exactly five minutes after the first strike of the contest, T.J. Caig capitalized on a power play breakaway to give the Oilers a two-goal cushion. From deep in his own territory, Tulsa defenseman Ricards Birzinsh whipped a pass directly to the tape of Caig who snuck behind the Rapid City defenders and waltzed in on Griggs. The wily winger snapped the puck under the blocker of Griggs for his 12th goal of the season. Rush rookie Cody Ferriero put home side on board with a power play goal at 15:07 at the Oilers carried a 2-1 lead into the first intermission.

The Oilers generated their third power play goal of the night less than a minute into the middle frame. Once again, Booras was able to re-direct a shot past Griggs to restore the Oilers two-goal lead. The Rush responded quickly thanks to newly acquired forward, Patrick Cullen. In just his second game in a Rush sweater, Cullen drove toward the Tulsa net and elevated a backhand over Kevin Carr at the 2:34 mark of the second period. Rapid City's momentum continued at 4:14 when Jesse Schultz slammed home a rebound to level the contest at 3-3. The game remained tied until the 14:53 mark of the second when a hustling Adam Pleskach put the Oilers in front for good. After securing a turnover in the neutral zone, Pleskach fired a shot off the blocker of Griggs and continued driving toward the net. The fluttering puck finally settled down in front of Griggs and the quick stick of Pleskach pushed the puck across the goal line to give the Oilers a 4-3 edge.

In the third period, the Oilers were able make the lead stand up, something they failed to do in a 2-1 shootout loss on Friday. Carr made seven of his 20 saves in the final frame and Matt Larke sealed the win for the visitors with an empty net goal at 19:15.

The Oilers have earned points in three consecutive games for the first time since the end of November and moved into a tie with the Wichita Thunder for second place in the Central Division. Tulsa ended the contest 3-for-6 on the power play while Rapid City went 1-fo-8 on the man-advantage. Booras, Caig, and Drew Fisher each finished with a pair of points for the Oilers who improved to 4-1-1 in the month of January.

The Oilers leave frigid South Dakota for sunny Florida where they will play two games next week against the Florida Everblades and one game against the Orlando Solar Bears.

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ECHL Stories from January 10, 2015


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