Oilers @ IceMen Tonight: Preview

(Photo by Kevin Pyle)

April 2, 2016TONIGHT’S MATCHUP

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

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

1-2-0-0

TEAM CAPSULES

Tulsa Oilers

Overall: 32-30-3-2 (69 points)

Home: 21-10-3-1

Road: 11-20-0-1

Rank: 3rd in Central Division

Evansville IceMen

Overall: 27-31-7-2 (63 points)

Home: 15-14-4-2

Road: 12-17-3-0

Rank: 5th in Midwest Division

OILERS LEADERS

Goals:  Phil Brewer – 23

Assists:  Dennis Brown – 28

Points: Adam Pleskach – 43

+/-:  Brown, + 10

PIM: Mathieu Gagnon – 149

ICEMEN LEADERS

Goals:  Tyson Fawcett – 20

Assists: Nathan Moon – 32

Points:  Nathan Moon – 47

+/-:  Jordan Sims, +23

PIM:  Vincent Dunn – 154

TONIGHTS MATCHUPTonight the Oilers and IceMen meet up for the fourth and final time this season. Tulsa has only one win against the team that sits twelfth in Western Conference. After a loss last night to the Quad City Mallards, the Oilers are anxious as ever to capture a win and stay in the playoff race.

ROAD TO KELLYThe Tulsa Oilers are ninth in the Western Conference Standings—just one spot out of the final playoff position. Tulsa will look to increase their 69 points this weekend as they have an opportunity for two from Evansville. For a more favorable chance for Tulsa, Quad City will need to lose tomorrow.

POWER HOUSEWhen in the BOK Center, the Oilers bring it. In their own home, the Oilers are first in the ECHL on the power play. Tulsa may be in last place on the road with the man advantage but at home they dominate with their 21.4%. They have 21 total power play goals on 98 attempts in 34 games.

MOOSE MOVESThe Moose still have Oilers’ leading goal scorer, Dan DeSalvo, on loan. DeSalvo, on a contact with Tulsa, made his AHL debut with the Moose where he produced an assist. In his second game, DeSlavo tallied his first AHL goal against the Grand Rapids Griffins on Friday, March 11. In 11 games, the forward has seven points. Monday, the Manitoba Moose recalled goaltender Jussi Olkinuora after six impressive and consecutive starts with the Oilers. Then on Friday, he was given back. Olkinuora made the start last night against the Mallards.

#ECHLMarchMASKnessThe ECHL is hosting a social media contest during the month of March. An image of each team’s selected mask will go ‘head to head’ against another in a Twitter poll—giving fans the chance to vote for what they think is cooler. The bracket began with 16 chosen teams–of which the Oilers were selected.  Kevin Carr’s special Alzheimer’s mask has advanced through rounds one, two and three. On Monday, April 4, the Finals will commence between the Oilers ‘#ENDALZ’ mask and the Toledo Walley’s mask. To vote, go to @ECHL’s page on Twitter and vote for Tulsa/Carr on the Twitter poll. Voting will last 24 hours beginning at 8 PM EST.

EXTRA DROPSThe Oilers are sixth in the ECHL in shots against with a 27.88 percentage… Kevin Carr is thirteenth among goaltenders with a 2.39 goals against average and third in minutes with 2498… Phil Brewer is tied at third among rookies with 23 goals… Tulsa leads in team high penalty minutes with 109 on 01/02/16…

-Oilers-