Oilers Host Grizzlies on Pink in the Rink Night: Preview

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

TONIGHT’S MATCHUPTulsa Oilers VS Utah Grizzlies 7:05 p.m.Watch on ECHL-TVListen on Ustream

PREVIOUS MEETINGS1-2-0-0

TEAM CAPSULES

Tulsa Oilers

Overall: 21-17-2-2 (46 points)

Home: 12-7-2-1

Road: 9-10-0-1

Rank: 3rd in Central Division

Utah Grizzlies

Overall: 27-17-2-0 (56 points)

Home: 16-7-1-0

Road: 11-10-1-0

Rank: 1st in West Division

OILERS LEADERS

Goals:  Emerson Clark – 18

Assists:  Dan DeSalvo – 24

Points: Dan DeSalvo – 35

+/-:  Dan DeSalvo, Dennis Brown +18

PIM: Emerson Clark – 117

GRIZZLIES LEADERS

Goals:  Alex Krushelnyski – 19

Assists: Charles Sarault – 30

Points:  Charles Sarault – 44

+/-:  Eric Knodel, +11

PIM:  Shayne Taker – 51

TONIGHT’S MATCHUPThe Oilers and Grizzlies are back in the BOK Center again after Thursday night’s showdown where Utah skated away with the two points. The season series between the two sits 1-2-0-0.

Tulsa had some time to rest but the Grizzlies played in Allen, Texas last night and were shutout 2-0 by the Americans.

Utah is currently ranked third in the Western Conference–first in the West Division–with 56 points. The Oilers remain third in the Central Division with 46 points.

MOOSE ON THE MOVELast week was a busy one on the transaction list for the Tulsa Oilers and their American Hockey League affiliate, the Manitoba Moose. One would go up and two would come down.

Defenseman Aaron Harstad was recalled to Manitoba by the Moose. After being re-assigned to Tulsa on January 12, Harstad returns to the Moose having played in eight games with the northern squad and racking up 12 penalty minutes. He was the Winnipeg Jets’ seventh round selection, 187th overall in the 2011 NHL Draft.A few days later, on Saturday, the AHL team would send Tulsa Jimmy Lodge. In his first game with the Oilers, Lodge would produce an assist in Allen against the Americans. In his second game, he would snag four and be crowned number one star of the game.

Axel Blomqvist returned to the Oilers lineup one day later. During his time with the Oilers, the forward has registered four points (1 goal, 3 assists). He was signed to a three year NHL entry level contract by the Winnipeg Jets on Oct. 1, 2013.

LINE OF FIREThe month of January was a hot one for the the line of Dan DeSalvo, Phil Brewer and Emerson Clark. This trio finished the 13-game month with a combination of 38 points. Brewer would contribute 12 of those points, four of them coming from one game on January 9 against the Wichita Thunder. Clark also brought 12 points to the group with a side of three Gordie Howe hat tricks. DeSalvo, the rookie out of Bowling Green State University, would lead the group with 14 points.

With two games under their belt in February, they have a collection of four points.

FANTASY SWEATERSEarlier in December Fans had the opportunity to vote on ECHL.com for one player on each ECHL member team’s ballot to help select the 2015-16 Fantasy Team. This chosen player would wear a specialty jersey at a home game. A goaltender for each team would also wear a unique jersey and participate in the MeiGray Golden Goalie Program. The winners voted upon for the Tulsa Oilers were forward Mathieu Gagnon and goaltender Kevin Carr. These two will debut their ECHL Fantasy Team jerseys on February 13 against the Quad City Mallards.

EXTRA DROPSKevin Carr is eighth with a 2.13  goals against average and third in minutes (1888)…Among rookies in the ECHL, Dan DeSalvo is fourth in scoring with 35 points, third in assist with 24 and tied for first in plus/minus with +18… Phil Brewer is tied for first in rookie shootout goals with two… Oilers are fourth in shots against, averaging 27.43…Tonight is the Oilers 8th Annual Pink in the Rink night presented by TD Williamson benefiting Turn Tulsa Pink…

Saturday night the BOK Center will see the Utah Grizzlies for the final time in the regular season. The puck drops at 7:05pm. What better way to end the day than by spending the evening at the BOK Center with the Tulsa Oilers? No need to stress looking for things to do in Tulsa. Our nights are jam packed with action and excitement sure to have you ready for more, and you’re in luck. The Oilers have four games between February 10th and the 14th. It’s not to late to get season tickets so you don’t miss an ounce of the Oilers love.

When you’re looking for things to do in Tulsa and you choose to come to an OIlers game your experience will go far beyond just a hockey game. Take this most recent roster move for example. There are two things to note. One, things are always changing and it’s exciting. Each time you come back to a game you are going to have your favorite players to cheer for but you’re also going to get new ones from time to time. This is exciting because then you get to increase your fandom of others. Also, you get to watch the players that you do invest in cheering for do well at the next level. Axel has been to Tulsa once this season from the American Hockey League. He is at what would be equivalent to Triple AAA. These guy have greater chances of making it to the National Hockey League and some day you will be able to watch them on TV from Tulsa someday. Pretty neat. The second thing, Sweden! Not only are you getting to watch talented players participate in an exciting and fast paced game, but also see players from all over the world! These guys come from all countries to be part of the National organization that the Tulsa Oilers are affiliated to within the Winnipeg Jets organization of the National Hockey League.

These affiliations are not only good for the players that are “owned” by the big league club, but also for the players that are getting to skate, play with and learn from these other guys. When you are looking for things to do in Tulsa and you come to an Oilers game it’s not just hockey you’re watching. These are peoples’ jobs as well. It’s a business. The business of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL)  is ran differently than the business of the American Hockey League and that of the National Hockey League but they are all three very close intertwined–especially when you are dealing with affiliates such as Tulsa, Manitoba and Winnipeg’s.