Oilers magic number to clinch drops to two.
ODESSA, TX.– It’s becoming a numbers game now.
The Tulsa Oilers went 1-1 in west Texas this past weekend and are now within a game of doing something they haven’t done in six long years. Clinching a playoff berth.
This weekend the Oilers traveled to Odessa, Texas for a two-game set against the Jackalopes. They lost the Friday night game 7-5, and survived a four-goal barrage in the 3rd period of Saturday night’s game to prevail over Odessa 7-6. The game on Friday night featured a pair of goals by Braden Walls in the second and third period, with the other markers coming from Sean Erickson, John Mori and Mike Wirill.
The Jacks were too much for them that night, however, as the CHL’s leading scorer Sebastien Thinel would post a hat trick, Todd Robinson would score a pair of goals and three assists while Mike Ramsay and Kenny Corupe would round things out for Odessa . A scant 12 minutes of penalties were called by referee Brent Coulombe, and the Oilers outshot the Jackalopes 37-30.
Saturday night’s game would start differently for Tulsa as they roared out to a 2-0 lead before the first 10 minutes had elapsed. After two periods the Oilers were enjoying a 6-2 lead over the Jacks before they woke up and posted a four goal barrage in the dying minutes of the 3rd period. Odessa would run out of time, however, and Tulsa came away with the win.
Ian Keserich would stop 40 of the Jackalopes 46 shots on goal while both of the Odessa goaltenders, Mike Mole and David McKee would combine to stop 26 of the Oilers 33 shots.
Saturday night’s win narrows the Oilers magic number to clinch a playoff spot to two, thus enabling Tulsa to clinch their first playoff berth since 2005 against the Wichita Thunder on Tuesday night in the BOK Center. Tickets for all Oiler games are available at the BOK 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).