Oilers riding six-game point streak

TULSA, Okla. – The Tulsa Oilers are surely glad that January is over. The team knew going into the season that the first month of 2012 would be tough, with just four home games and a couple of lengthy road trips sprinkled in for good measure. Despite losing seven of the 12 games they played in January, the Oilers are still in good shape. The squad struggled at times, but luckily momentum has started to shift their way once again. The day it all started to change was January 21st. In the middle of a three-game in three-day Indiana road trip, Tulsa picked up a one-goal win at Fort Wayne, avenging their one-goal loss the previous night. Since then, the team has went on to gain standing points in six-straight games, equaling their longest point streak of the season. Rookie Mike Ullrich and veteran Marty Standish provided first-period goals that put the Oilers on top 2-1 against the Komets. Netminder Ian Keserich also turned in a solid performance, stopping 34 of 35 Fort Wayne Shots as Tulsa’s focus then shifted to Evansville for a battle with the Icemen. Evansville’s Jake Obermeyer managed to score the game-winner with just one second remaining in overtime, but Tulsa was able to take one point home with them.

The following weekend presented the Oilers with three games in three cities in less than 48 hours. With the taste of the last-second overtime loss to Evansville still in their mouths, Tulsa picked up a big win on January 27th, defeating the Texas Brahmas 1-0 on the road. Keserich again proved to be the difference, stopping all 23 shots he faced. After a bus ride to Wichita, Ryan Cramer helped salvage another point for Tulsa, scoring with 2:03 remaining in the third period to tie the game. Unfortunately, an overtime goal gave the Berry Conference leading Thunder the win. After returning home for their first game at the BOK Center in 12 days, the Oilers flourished. It seemed as if a return home and a matinee contest with the Laredo Bucks was just what the doctor ordered for the Tulsa offense to come to life once again. Ullrich netted a hat-trick and Michel Beausoleil added two goals as the Oilers defeated the Bucks 7-2. Goaltender Steve Christie stopped 33 of 35 shots for his second win since being picked up by the Oilers on January 14th. Following a couple of days of rest, Tulsa resumed play on Tuesday night, overcoming a determined Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees squad and a penalty-plagued second period to win 5-4 and extend their point streak. The Oilers will now go into a critical three-game road-stretch as they continue to jockey for playoff position. Tulsa travels to Allen for a two-game series tonight and Saturday before heading back to Wichita for the regular season series finale with their longtime rivals. Wichita leads the series 6-4, while Tulsa holds the upper hand against Allen, leading their series 4-1. Tulsa (21-15-5, 47 points) currently sits third in the Berry Conference behind Wichita (27-12-2, 56 points) and Allen (24-10-7, 55 points). Texas (20-16-7) is tied for third with Tulsa, but the Oilers hold two games-in-hand on the Brahmas. Following their three-game stretch with the two conference leaders, the Oilers will be rewarded with six-straight home games. In total they will play 15 home games during the final two months of the regular season. “At that time of the year, if you’re going to make the playoffs you want to be rested and ready to go,” Oilers Head Coach Bruce Ramsay said during an interview shortly after the 2011-12 CHL schedule was released. “When you’re winning you’re gaining confidence and doing good things. We want to be doing that at home and to be able to play in front of our home fans toward the latter half of the season I think it’s going to be very positive.” Contact the writer at: john.hall@prohockeynews.com