Carr Carries Oilers to Second Straight Shootout Win Over Thunder

(Game Winning Goal. Photo by Ed Bailey)

Tulsa, OK— Sales were not the only special deal to celebrate on the December 26 Boxing Day as the Oilers took the lead in the StoneWolf Casino Cup series against the Thunder with their second straight shootout win. Kevin Carr respectively would be named the first star of the night, stopping 37 of 38 regulation goals.

Neither squad would produce on the 13 total power play opportunities but the Oilers would still walk away with the two points.

Grandma’s Christmas cookies kept the first period slow for both franchises on the ice for seventy-five percent of the frame. Holiday sweets, however, favored the Oilers as goal the lone goal came from Tulsa’s Brownie (defenseman Dennis Brown) at the 16:04 mark. The leading goal came off of the assist of Dan DeSalvo and put the rookie forward on a five game point streak.

A long outlet pass in the second frame to Logan Nelson was Wichita’s tying chance but goaltender Kevin Carr said no thanks and goodnight with a huge stick side, sprawling save.

Revenge struck for the Thunder with two minutes left in frame two when Michael Neal (assists from Joey Sides and Erik Lizon) snuck around the goal line to tuck one into the five-hole of Carr.  The board would read 1-1.

With nine shots each in the 20 minutes, neither Tulsa nor Wichita would produce in period three.

For the third straight meeting between these two teams, the contest would go to overtime. Halfway into the 3-on-3 action, Oilers’ Brandon Wong went to the box for his second tripping call of the night but the Tulsa penalty kill held strong.

Overtime wouldn’t be enough and a shootout would decide.

Wong and Adam Pleskach would score for the Oilers. Carr stood tall and closed the door on two of the three Thunder skaters for a 2-1 win.

The Oilers continue their journey on the road next week when they meet with the Rapid City Rush for a New Years Eve dance. The Oilers will look to advance their win streak to three and up their now 13-10-2-1 record.

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Final Box Score

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Below is an Excerpt of a Tulsa Oilers Game

Jeff: All right. We’re back here in Wichita, Kansas. Jeff Brookilary with Tulsa Oilers hockey. After 2 periods of play, we’re all knotted up at 1, 1. Tulsa scoring first in the first period on a goal by Dennis Brown. His second of the season assisted by DeSalvo and Clark. That came at 16:04 of the first period. An even strength goal. Then we have the goal in the second period by Wichita. 17:33 of the period by Michael Neal. His third of the year. Believe it or not, I don’t even have the crowd mic on, but boy, their PA is so loud here. It is picking up on my personal headset mic. Wow. Michael Neal with his third goal of the season for Wichita assisted by Joey Sides. The second assist, Eric Lizan. Yes, they got it correct. Now they’ve changed it on the score sheet.

We are tied at 1. Shots on goal in the first period. 13 for Tulsa, Wichita, 11. Shots on goal in the second period, Wichita with 12, Tulsa with 9. Total shots on goal thus far in the game are different on the score board than they are on the score sheet, so I don’t know who to believe. I’m going to refresh. Thank you. Somebody just handed me the goal scoring there. I told them they don’t need to send the girl over. They got a young girl that’s their runner. Little girl. She comes over. She brings me the goal score and the assists and so forth. She doesn’t do it until late. I don’t need it now. I told her. They don’t need to send her. I got the score sheet right here.

Anyway, shots on goal. They just changed it on the score sheet, so it’s up to date. It looks like Wichita with 15 shots on goal in the second period. Tulsa with 9. Total shots in the game. Wichita 26, Tulsa 22 total shots on goal here in this one. Tulsa’s 0 for 4 in the power play. Wichita 0 for 4 on the power play as well. That’s the look at the statistics here for you following 2 periods of hockey. We’ll take a break. When we come back, we’ll take a look around the East Coast Hockey League for you as we continue. We’re tied 1, 1. Tulsa and Wichita all tied up after 2 periods of play. We’re in the second intermission. You’re listening to Tulsa Oilers hockey.

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