Oilers @ IceMen Tonight: Game Preview

(Photo by Kevin Pyle – www.photopyle.com) 

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP

Tulsa Oilers @ Evansville IceMen 7:15 p.m.Watch on ECHL-TV

Listen on Ustream

TEAM CAPSULES

Tulsa Oilers

Overall: 28-21-3-2 (61 points)

Home: 19-8-3-1

Road: 9-13-0-1

Rank: 3rd in Central Division

Evansville IceMen

Overall: 20-25-6-2 (48 points)

Home: 10-10-4-2

Road: 10-15-2-0

Rank: 5th in Midwest Division

OILERS LEADERS

Goals:  Adam Pleskach – 18

Assists:  Dan DeSalvo – 32

Points: Dan DeSalvo – 48

+/-:  Dennis Brown, Dan DeSalvo +18

PIM: Mathieu Gagnon – 123

ICEMEN LEADERS

Goals:  Daultan Leveille – 19

Assists: Nathan Moon – 24

Points:  Daultan Leveille, Nathan Moon – 35

+/-:  Jordan Sims, +17

PIM: Vincent Dunn – 116

TONIGHT’S MATCHUPThe Oilers and IceMen meet up tonight for the second time this season—first in Evansville. Tulsa faced the IceMen on February 19 in the BOK Center where they owned a 5-2 victory over Evansville. Jussi Olkinuora stopped 34 shots and Phil Brewer tallied the game winner.

Tulsa holds 61 points to Evansville’s 48.

RING RINGCalled-Up. Last week the Oilers received a three phone calls from the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League, resulting in Tulsa’s loss of five players. Forwards Axel Blomqvist and Jimmy Lodge were recalled. Blomqvist, 21, has skated in 25 games with the Oilers, producing 10 points (5 goals and 5 assists). The Osby, Sweden native earned a three-point game for Tulsa on February 20 against the Allen Americans. Standing six feet and seven inches, Blomqvist, has appeared in 14 contest with the Moose–inking two penalty minutes. Lodge, since being assigned to Tulsa has tallied eight points in 13 games (1 goal and 7 assists) and 12 penalty minutes. Last Friday, The Moose recalled forward Jiri Fronk and defenseman Brennan Serville. Fronk, 22, has suited up for five games with the Oilers where he tallied two points (1 goal and 1 assist). Serville, 22, has split time between the Oilers and Moose this season skating in 17 games with Tulsa and three with Manitoba. The Winnipeg Jets 2011 draft pick (round 3, #78 overall) has registered one assist with the Oilers. On Monday, forward Ben Walker was recalled to the Manitoba Moose completing the week of roster movement.

PLAYOFF WATCHThe Oilers are 8th in the Western Conference (15th overall)—a spot that puts them playoff eligible if the season ended today. This week the Oilers take their 61 points and try to snag from the team with 48 (Evansville) and 92 (Missouri).

DESALVOWhen in the BOK Center, Dan DeSalvo can’t help but put up numbers. Since December 13, there has yet to be a home game that he has not produced on. With 22 points in 17 games at home, the Illinois native leads Tulsa with 45 points. DeSalvo is 16th overall in the ECHL for points, 4th among rookies in points, 3rd among rookies in assists and first among rookies with a +18 rating.

EXTRA DROPSKevin Carr is 7th among ECHL goaltenders with a 2.20 goals against average and second in minutes (2313)… Dennis Brown is 9th among defensemen with 31 points and 3rd in assists with 26… Oilers are fourth in shots against averaging 27.65 and sixth in goals against at 2.54…Tulsa has the sixth best home power play in the ECHL with at 19.3 percent…