Keserich stops all 29 shots as Oilers blank Quad City 3-0.
TULSA, OK– When a team has been struggling like the Tulsa Oilers have this season inspirational moments seem hard to come by. Indeed, the demons of Denver avenue have had little to celebrate since their opening night win way back on October 15th against the Wichita Thunder.
As it turns out, inspiration came in the form of a forward named Harrison Reed. In Tuesday night’s game against the Quad City Mallards, Reed’s shorthanded goal at 7:09 of the second period gave the Oilers a much needed boost and something that has been a rare thing indeed this season: A two goal lead.
Reed, who returned to Tulsa on Tuesday after a brief stint in Cleveland with the Lake Erie Monsters, scooped up the puck as it was being cleared from the Oilers zone and skated in on Quad City goalie David Brown and slammed it home. The assist went to Ian Keserich. Evan Kotsopoulos had given the Oilers a 1-0 lead in the first period after he shot home a rebound of a Gordon Bell slap shot. John Mori got the second assist.
Bell would put the game on ice with an empty net goal after Mallards coach Frank Anzalone pulled Brown with 3:27 to go in the game. Attempting to clear the puck from the half-boards near the Oilers bench, Bell pass traveled 170 feet and slipped in the net just inside the right post.
The horn sounded on a surprisingly dominant effort by the Oilers, who had not won since November 12th when they defeated the Colorado Eagles in a shootout. Goalie Ian Keserich was superb in the net for Tulsa, stopping all 29 shots that Quad City fired at him. The Oilers also killed all 6 of the Mallard power play opportunities. The loss snapped Quad City’s four-game win streak, which was second only to the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs who have won 5 in a row.
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Photos by: Kevin Pyle
Tuesday’s game began a busy holiday week for the Oilers, who have four games to play in 5 days. After tonight’s game the Oilers have a day off before facing the Mississippi Riverkings on Thursday night and the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs on Friday night. They then travel to Evansville, Indiana to face the IceMen on Saturday.
Tickets for all Oiler games are available a the BOK Center Box Office, Tickets.com, Tulsa area Reasor’s stores, and by calling 1-866-7BOK-CTR (866-725-5287). More information is available by calling the Oilers office at 918-632-PUCK (7825).
Photos by Kevin Pyle.