Oilers slowing as season wanes

Allen's Spencer Asuchak (26) attempt a shot against Brandon Anderson (34) on Tuesday night. Photo: Kevin Pyle

There aren’t that many games left in the Tulsa Oilers regular season. As of this writing only five games remain and the Oilers are jockeying for the best possible playoff position and that fight is between the Oilers, Quad City, Rapid City and Wichita, so every win and every potential point is becoming critical.

Through the last five games, dating back to March 21st, which was a 4-1 win over the Wichita Thunder on their home ice, the Oilers have managed to get only three points in an overtime loss to Allen on March 28th and a 5-1 victory over Wichita on March 29th. The remaining three games were all regulation losses to Allen on March 22, March 25th, and on Tuesday night where they fell in the series finale with the final champions of the Central Hockey League 5-1.

Jon Booras provided the lone Tulsa goal of the game on Tuesday night, when he managed to tip in a shot from Dave Pszenyczny just past the midway point of the second period. That was unfortunately as close as the home side would get because after about six minutes of re-energized play from the Oilers, the Americans showed why they have had a chokehold on the ECHL Central Division since December as the floodgates opened and they scored five unanswered goals over the final 29 and ½ minutes of the game.

One thing that can be taken away from possibly one of the Oilers least stellar games in the BOK Center this season is that they do not have to face Allen again until the playoffs. Despite that, in the 2014-15 season Tulsa has only defeated the Americans twice at home and five times overall. In the 17 games the two teams played the Oilers posted a record of 5-10-2 overall.

Jon Booras (27) and Adam Pleskach (18) battle Asuchak (26) for the puck on Tuesday night. Photo: Kevin Pyle

On Tuesday night Tulsa went 1/5 on the power play and Allen went 1/6 on their man advantage opportunities. The Oilers managed to end a three game dry spell on the power play but still failed to score more than two goals in their final four games against the Americans. Brandon Anderson made 24 saves on 29 shots while Joel Rumpel made 21 saves in his first win as a professional.

The Oilers also missed an opportunity to move into a tie with Quad City for third place in the ECHL Central Division but remain five points up on Wichita with five games remaining.

Next up for Tulsa is a two-game series with Missouri beginning on Friday night.