Two quick goals by Allen in the third period kills Oilers hopes for second home win.
TULSA, OK– The 3-8-1Tulsa Oilers returned to the confines of the amazing BOK Center after an 18 day hiatus on Thursday night to face the Allen Americans, the teams with the best record in the Central Hockey League at 11-2-0. The last time the Oilers graced the ice in their home arena they were schooled by the Wichita Thunder 8-0.
The road trip that sent the Oilers on a four game odyessy that began rather dramatically with a fire that consumed their chartered bus on November 5th and ended with a narrow defeat at the hands of the Rapid City Rush last Saturday night. In between the Oilers could only manage one single 4-3 shootout win against the Colorado Eagles.
Prior to the game Tulsa center Harrison Reed was recalled to the Lake Erie Monsters and they signed forward Chris Morehouse.
The Oilers got on the BOK big board first on an odd goal from Mike Beausoleil, Beausoleil shot the puck and after Allen goalie Adrian LeMay made the initial stop the puck deflected up in the air and landed behind the Americans goalie. Credit Dustin Hulak and Gary Steffes with assists.
The Americans responded at 13:43 on the power play as Bruce Graham found the back of the net behind Oilers goalie Tyler Sims, assisted by David Strathman.
The second period started with Tobias Whelan getting a power play goal at 1:21 assisted by Liam Huculak and Bruce Graham. Chad Costello of the Oilers responded nearly 5 minutes later with a goal at 6:27 assisted by Jack Combs and Derek Eastman. With 3:16 left in the period, the Americans Dustin Donaghy scored an even strength goal at 17:44 assisted by Tobias Whelan.
The end of the middle period featured the only fight of an otherwise incident free game when Chris Morehouse was shoved to the ice at 18:57 by Iain McPhee of the Americans. A scuffle ensued and Morehouse slammed McPhee to the ice.
Two quick goals by Allen started the third frame as David Strathman fired a rising wrist shot that deflected off the post and rattled around the perimeter of the goal cage behind Sims with only 21 seconds elapsed off the clock. At 1:27, Erik Adams scored the Americans 3rd power play goal in six opportunities.
The first professional goal by Oilers defenseman Brennan Barker closed the Oilers to within 2 goals of the Americans, but it was not enough as the Oilers fell to Allen 5-3.
In the end Oilers goalie Tyler Sims would stop 25 of 30 shots while his counterpart would save 26 of 29. In other action in the CHL tonight the Odessa Jackalopes defeated the Wichita Thunder 6-2 in Odessa and with the Jackalopes being the Oilers closest pursuers the Oilers are now in 9th place in the Berry Conference, dead last.
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Photos by: Kevin Pyle
The Oilers will be in action tomorrow nigght against the Missouri Mavericks at 7:35pm in the Amazing BOK Center. Tickets are on sale through the Oilers front office at 918-632-PUCK (7825) or at the BOK Center box office at 200 S Denver downtown.