Mavericks stampede Oilers .
TULSA, OK—After a day’s rest the Tulsa Oilers welcomed the Missouri Mavericks into the amazing BOK Center for the 3rd-of nine total meetings with the team from Independence. The two teams have split their first two meetings, both games featuring the road team taking the victory. The Mavericks took the last meeting on Thanksgiving night 5-4 in a shootout.
Tonight’s game featured the 6th placwe Missouri squad playing the 5th place Oilers, who defeated the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees 2-1 in a shootout. Missouri dropped their last game to the Riverkings, 5-1 in DeSoto. It can be said that both teams are looking at the playoffs, so the games between the Oilers and Mavericks have special significance as the stretch draws ever-closer.
One of the Oilers problems of late has been that the Oilers have only managed to score one goal in regulation in their last 3 games. The departure of Rob Hisey to the AHL continues to haunt what once was a team that could score four goals a night.
Once again, prior to the night’s activities the Oilers announced a late transaction. Left winger Brett Liscomb was acquired and assumed jersey number 10. That makes 3 new faces on the Tulsa bench in as many games. Liscomb has one game of professional hockey experience, playing in the 2007-08 season for the Dayton Bombers of the ECHL where he scored an assist.
The Mavericks scored first, on an Andrew Davis shot from the point at 4:44 of the first period. Missouri scored shorthanded at 8:24 on a lucky break away from Derek Pallardy assisted by Nick Sirota. Oilers goalie Trevor Cann made the initial save but failed to manage the rebound. Early on, the Oilers looked lethargic, working themselves into a hole. The hole got deeper when Jeff MacDermid scored a power play goal at 12:28 assisted by former Oilers captain Jeff Christian and Simon Watson.
It would take nearly 19 minutes before Tulsa player assistant coach Tyler Butler would punch the puck past Mavs goalie Gerry Festa on what has become a rare Oilers power play goal. Give assists to Derek Eastman and Dan Riedel. Oilers broadcaster Steve McCall pointed out that all of Tyler Butler’s goals this season have come on power play situations. Missouri outshot Tulsa 13-12 in the period.
It was nearly 8 minutes before the next goal would be scored, with Missouri widening the margin on a power play goal by Jordan Foreman at on a virtually open net. The Mavericks played well, taking advantage of the fact that the Oilers seemed to be playing lost, chasing the puck and making poor passes through the neutral zone. Thankfully, Foreman’s goal would be the only one in the period as the Oilers would have the second intermission to regroup, again.
Tulsa would score on a quick rush at 10:49 of the 3rd period with a goal by Jake Riddle assisted by Aaron Davis. That was answered at 12:15 with the Mavericks on the power play Nick Sirota would tip in a shot by Bret Tyler, give the second assist given to Jordan Foreman. There was some ugliness around the 15:00 mark of the 3rd, when frustration would conspire to start several fights. As satisfying as it was to see the Oilers do something other than watch the light go on above their goalie’s head, it depleted their bench when it was possible to close the gap in a 5-2 score.
At 18:42 of the 3rd, Aaron Davis of the Oilers would score on an odd-man rush to bring the deficit to two goals on an assist by Tyler Butler. It wouldn’t matter as Tom Maldonado, the former Oiler would put in an empty net goal and seal the Missouri victory at 6-3.
The Oilers drop to 19-17-1 while the Mavericks improve to 18-19-3 and move into a tie at 39 points apiece in the standings. Next game is this Friday night for the Oilers at home against the Colorado Eagles at 7:35 in the amazing BOK Center.
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Photos by: Kevin Pyle
Tickets for Friday night’s game and all remaining Oilers home games at the BOK Center box office, tulsaoilers.com and all reasors locations.
GAME LENGTH: 2:38
ATTENDANCE: 3,444
REFEREE: Tom Steinel
1ST STAR: Sirota, Nick (MIZ)
2ND STAR: Foreman, Jordan (MIZ)
3RD STAR: Davis, Aaron (TUL)
PENALTIES
Period 1
Missouri - Jeff Christian - (Tripping), 2 min, 6:57
Tulsa - Tyler Fleck - (Hooking), 2 min, 12:08
Missouri - Carlyle Lewis - (Hooking), 2 min, 13:31
Missouri - Derek Pallardy - (Hooking), 2 min, 15:52
Missouri - Kyle Bochek - (Kneeing), 2 min, 18:46
Period 2
Tulsa - Aaron Davis - (Goalie Interference), 2 min, 1:18
Tulsa - TJ Caig - (Tripping), 2 min, 6:13
Missouri - Bret Tyler - (Tripping), 2 min, 12:33
Tulsa - Jake Riddle - (Unsportsmanlike Conduct), 2 min, 20:00
Period 3
Tulsa - Jake Riddle - (Unsportsmanlike Conduct), 2 min, 5:45
Tulsa - Dan Riedel - (Elbowing), 2 min, 8:42
Tulsa - Derek Merlini - (Fighting Major), 5 min, 11:11
Missouri - Carlyle Lewis - (Fighting Major), 5 min, 11:11
Tulsa - Derek Merlini - (Roughing), 2 min, 11:11
Tulsa - Dan Riedel - (Unsportsmanlike Conduct), 2 min, 12:15
Missouri - Jordan Foreman - (Fighting Major), 5 min, 14:54
Missouri - Jordan Foreman - (No Category Misconduct), 10 min, 14:54
Missouri - Bret Tyler - (Roughing Double Minor), 4 min, 14:54
Missouri - Tommy Lange - (Roughing Double Minor), 4 min, 14:54
Missouri - Tom Maldonado - (Roughing Double Minor), 4 min, 14:54
Tulsa - Thomas Harrison - (Fighting (Instigator)), 2 min, 14:54
Tulsa - Thomas Harrison - (Fighting Major), 5 min, 14:54
Tulsa - Thomas Harrison - (Fighting (Instigator) Misconduct), 10 min, 14:54
Tulsa - Marty Standish - (Roughing Double Minor), 4 min, 14:54
Tulsa - Tyler Fleck - (Roughing Double Minor), 4 min, 14:54
Tulsa - Adam Bartholomay - (Roughing Double Minor), 4 min, 14:54
Tulsa - TJ Caig - (Roughing), 2 min, 19:02
Missouri - Carlyle Lewis - (Roughing), 2 min, 19:02
Tulsa - Dan Riedel - (Unsportsmanlike Conduct), 2 min, 19:44
Missouri - Andrew Davis - (Fighting Major), 5 min, 20:00
Missouri - Andrew Davis - (Fighting (Aggressor) Game Misconduct), 10 min, 20:00
Missouri - Andrew Davis - (Fighting Match), 10 min, 20:00