GAME PREVIEW: FEB. 9 AT ALLEN AMERICANS

GAME  PREVIEW: FEB. 9 AT ALLEN AMERICANS

ALLEN, Texas. – The Oilers return to the Credit Union of Texas Event Center tonight, losing 4-3 in a shootout to the Americans on Wednesday night.  

DATE: Friday, Feb. 9

LOCATION: Credit Union of Texas Event Center (200 E. Stacy Rd. Allen, Texas) 

TIME: 7:10 p.m. CT  

OPPONENT: Allen Americans

WATCH: Flo Hockey

PROMOTIONS: N/A 

TULSA AT A GLANCE

OILERS RECORD: 21-18-4-1 (47 points, Third in Mountain Division) 

OILERS OVER THE LAST 10 GAMES: 6-2-1-1

OILERS AWAY RECORD: 7-9-1-1

OILERS STREAK: 0-1-1-1

LAST GAME: Feb. 7 at Allen (4-3 SOL)

OILERS STATISTICAL LEADERS: 

Points: Kyle Crnkovic – 36

Goals: Eddie Matsushima – 16

Assists: Kyle Crnkovic – 25

+/-: Duggie Lagrone - + 15

PIM: Mike McKee - 46 

WINS: Julian Junca -  11 

Save Percentage: Calle Clang - .931 

ALLEN AT A GLANCE

AMERICANS RECORD: 19-23-2-1 (41 points, Fifth in Mountain Division) 

AMERICANS OVER THE LAST 10 GAMES: 2-6-1-1

AMERICANS HOME RECORD: 8-11-0-0

AMERICANS STREAK: 1-0-0-0

AMERICANS LAST GAME: Feb. 7 vs Tulsa (4-3 SOW) 

AMERICANS STATISTICAL LEADERS: 

Points: Hank Crone – 48

Goals: Colby McAuley – 21

Assists: Hank Crone– 33

+/-: Blake Murray- +12

PIM: Mikael Robidoux - 104 

Wins: Leevi Merilainen - 9

Save Percentage: Leevi Merilainen - .926 

SEASON SERIES

OILERS RECORD AGAINST AMERICANS: 3-1-2-1

OILERS RECORD AWAY AGAINST AMERICANS: 1-1-0-1

MOST RECENT MEETING: Feb. 7, 2024  (4-3 Allen Americans Shootout Win) 

MOST RECENT MEETING AT CREDIT UNION OF TEXAS EVENT CENTER: Feb. 7, 2024  (4-3 ALLEN OT) 

MOST RECENT MEETING AT BOK CENTER: Nov. 25, 2023 (6-5 TULSA OT)

OILERS RECORD AGAINST ALLEN OVER LAST FIVE SEASONS: 22-20-7-2

OILERS STATISTICAL LEADERS (SERIES): 

GOALS: Eddie Matsushima (5); Tyler Poulsen (4); Kyle Crnkovic (4)

ASSISTS: Eddie Matsushima (7); Kyle Crnkovic (5); Duggie Lagrone  (5)

POINTS: Eddie Matsushima (12); Kyle Crnkovic (9); Tyler Poulsen (7); Michael Farren (7)    

WINS: Julian Junca (2) 

AMERICANS STATISTICAL LEADERS (SERIES) 

GOALS: Colby McAuley (6); Kris Myllari (3); Matt Marcinew (3) 

ASSISTS: Hank Crone (7); Nolan Orzeck (5); Colby McAuley (4 

POINTS: Colby McAuley (10); Hank Krone (7); Blake Murray (6); Kris Myllari (6) 

WINS: Mark Sinclair (3) 

STORYLINES

LAST TIME IN ALLEN: The Oilers and Americans had yet another back-and-forth game this season, including some firsts for each club on the season. The Oilers lost in the shootout for the first time this season, while also losing past regulation for the first time this season after leading through two periods. The Americans won for the first time this season when out shooting their opponents. Allen has been out shot in all but five games this season. Both teams scored on their opening two shots of the game, while the Oilers were the only team to score in all three periods of regulation. Both teams scored one power-play goal in the game, and the Americans tied the game with the extra attacker on with 19.9 seconds remaining. After a four-round shootout, Coppell, Texas native Colin Jacobs secured the shootout winner, while Colby McAuley and Blake Murray scored in regulation for the Americans.   

MAGIC MIKE: Mike McKee currently sits at 399 professional games tonight, and 387 games as an Oiler. Earlier this season, McKee Luc and Michael Beausoleil, moving into third all-time in franchise games played (1992 onward). McKee is the longest-tenured Oiler in Tulsa, having played on every Rob Murray squad. McKee has also appeared in AHL games with San Diego and Tucson and began his professional career with a short stint with the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye.         

OVERTIME OVERLOAD: Wednesday’s shootout was the fourth of seven games this season between the Oilers and Americans that has gone beyond regulation. The previous two meetings between the two teams were the first back-to-back regulation results in the series, and Wednesday was the first to go into overtime in Allen. Three of the four games at the BOK Center went into overtime. Different than all six of the previous meeting, the winning team didn’t finish the game with five or more goals on Wednesday and it was the first time on the season that neither team finished with exactly five goals.   

COMMITTING CARSON: After a stat correction, Carson Focht registered a two-point night on Wednesday, including the only goal in the second period. The goal was Focht’s ECHL career high seventh in a season and was the forward’s first power-play goal since Dec. 8 at Fort Wayne. The former Vancouver Canuck contract now has produced two, two-point games in his last five outings. In addition to his other in-season milestones, Focht has recorded 22 points with the Oilers. While not an ECHL season high, it marks the most points the centerman has recorded with one ‘AA’ team. 

HOW TO BLANK BLAKE: Blake Murray has been a dangerous addition for the Americans. A Carolina Hurricanes contracted forward, Murray joined from the Everblades midseason. He scored in his first game against the Oilers and recorded the first two regulation goals for the Americans on Wednesday. In just three games against the Oiler, the sixth-round draft selection has six points (3G, 3A) and has recorded two three-point outings. Two of Murray’s goals have come from finding space in the slot, something the Oilers were able to halt him from achieving regularly on Jan. 15, where he left the contest with zero points. A dangerous power-play one time shooter, the entire penalty kill unit will be keeping an eye his one timer. However, his primary set up man Hank Crone will be out for the remainder of the weekend.        

JAROD IS JAMMING : Jarod Hilderman recorded an assist and a +2 rating on Wednesday night against the Americans, marking another solid game for the defenseman. The two-time NCAA National Champion now has 10 points (3G, 7A) in his last nine games. In addition to his strong offensive output, Hilderman has continued to be a steady presence on the back end, despite playing with three separate primary defensive partners during the stretch.   

GETTING IT DUNOV : Bair Gendunov has been an extremely productive addition to the Oilers roster. Wednesday marked the rookie’s 11^th appearance as an Oiler, matching his total with the Cincinnati Cyclones that came during the 2021-22 season. Gendunov has found much more success with his opportunity in Tulsa, recording seven points (5G, 2A) compared to three points (2G, 1A) in his 11 outings with the Cyclones. The 6’2 winger is also getting the puck to the net three times as often with Tulsa, recording 30 shots in comparison to just 10 with Cincinnati. Gendunov also was the only Oiler to score in the shootout on Wednesday, and his fifth goal with the team was crucial in picking up a point, as it was the Oilers last goal of the night. 

DIVISION STANDINGS

1. Kansas City Mavs. – 69 points (.784%) 

2. Idaho Steelheads — 60 points (.682%)

3. Tulsa Oilers          — 46 points (.543%)

4. Utah Grizzlies— 41 points (.466%)

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5. Allen Americans — 41 points (.456%)

6. Rapid City Rush —40 points (.455%)

7. Wichita Thunder— 33 points (.375%)

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

Feb. 1 – Brayden Sherbinin — Suspended by team to protect rights (went to Europe) 

Feb. 2 – Anthony Costantini — assigned to Tulsa by San Diego Gulls 

Feb. 4 — Julian Junca – Loaned to international team 

Feb. 5 — Trevor Thurston – acquired via trade from Orlando for cash considerations. Signed. 

Feb. 6 — Troy Kobryn – Signed to SPC from SPHL Fayetteville   

Feb. 7 – Blake McLaughlin— reassigned to Tulsa from San Diego by Anaheim Ducks

The Oilers and Americans do battle again tomorrow, Feb. 10 at the Credit Union of Texas Event Center.