Oilers bull-rushed 4-1.

Coming off a disappointing 5-3 loss to the Americans in Allen, Texas last night the Oilers came back to the amazing BOK Center looking to snap a 5-game losing streak begun on November 29th when the Texas Brahmas defeated the Oilers in the NYTEX Ice Center 3-1.  Two losses to the Rapid City Rush last week, the first regulation loss to the North division leading Colorado Eagles, and Allen followed.  

  The 5 game drop is Tulsa’s longest losing streak thus far this season.  Conversely, the Brahmas were looking to extend a 5 game winning streak, their last victory coming in an overtime victory against Arizona last night.

  The Brahmas scored first, on a quick goal by Mark Kolanos at 3:53, assisted by Elias Godoy and Justin Kinnunen.  A second tally would come from Grant Jacobsen at 8:56, assisted by Godoy and Kolanos.  In the period, the Oilers looked lifeless, passing was not on target and they were chasing after the puck instead of attacking it with the intent of scoring.  The Brahmas were in firm control of the period throughout, and it was clear at the intermission that the hill before the Tulsa squad was very tall indeed.

  The Oilers came out in the second seemingly more ready to play the game, and that was proven by a shorthanded marker by Jake Riddle on a breakaway with barely two minutes elapsed in the period.  That was answered at 13:63 by Grant Jacobsen’s second goal, a quick, twice-defected shot off the faceoff past Oilers goalie Marty Magers.  By and large the Oilers continued a confused, mistake riddled trend, with plenty of mental mistakes and lots of time spent in the penalty box.  The poor performance was not lost upon Oilers coach Bruce Ramsay, who was quite animated in his frustration in the last minute of the period behind the Oilers bench.

  Ineffective play continued to hinder the Oilers in the 3rd period as their frustration grew.  The only bright spot in the period was the Oilers early termination of 2-man penalty kill, but whatever satisfaction they could cull from that was squelched in the last three minutes of the period, when Mark Kolanos struck again, this time on the power play to extend Texas lead by 3 goals.  As it was the game was downright abysmal for the boys in blue.  The game would end with the Brahmas on top 4-1, and the Oilers losing streak moving to 6 losses in a row.

  The Oilers record now stands at 12-9-1, good enough to remain in 3rd place in the CHL North over the Mississippi Riverkings, who lost tonight to Bossier Shreveport 3-1.
The Oilers return to the friendly confines of the amazing BOK tomorrow afternoon for a matinee outing with the Arizona Sundogs.  The game will be the first time the Oilers have ever played the Sundogs since their entry into the CHL four years ago.  Tomorrow will feature the Oilers annual Teddy Bear Toss, which will happen when the Oilers score their first goal of the game.  Tickets for the game tomorrow and all Oilers home games can be purchased at the BOK Center box office, tulsaoilers.com, and all Reasors locations.

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Photos: Kevin Pyle

GAME LENGTH: 2:29
ATTENDANCE: 5,152
REFEREE: Justin Greene
1ST STAR: Kolanos, Mark (TEX)
2ND STAR: Jacobsen, Grant (TEX)
3RD STAR: Godoy, Elias (TEX)