TULSA, Okla. – Trailing late in the third, Wichita (7-17-0-2) got a goal from Kenton Miller to force overtime only to fall to Tulsa (11-10-2-1) in a shootout by the final of 3-2 on Saturday night at the BOK Center. Phil Brewer recorded the only tally in the penalty shot round that helped the home team earn the extra point. Wichita slips to 3-2-0-1 in the StoneWolf Casino Cup Series.
Chelios put the Thunder on the board first at 16:48, unloading a snap shot that got
through Kevin Carr and a 1-0 lead. Less than a minute later, Adam Pleskach tied the game with his sixth of the season and first against the Thunder.
After a scoreless second, Dan DeSalvo gave the Oilers a 2-1 advantage at 3:47 of the third. Each team exchanged power play chances down the stretch, but the score remained the same with two minutes left. Wichita took its timeout and pulled Grant Rollheiser for the extra attacker. On the ensuing face-off, Miller rifled a shot past Carr’s glove that tied it at two. The game would need overtime for the second night in a row.
Tulsa outshot Wichita 4-1 in the extra session, but both goalies stood tall. The only goal in the shootout came from Brewer, beating Rollheiser to the blocker side that helped the Oilers to the 3-2 shootout win.
Chelios recorded his second goal in a Thunder uniform. Miller found the net for the sixth time this season. Logan Nelson finished with two helpers on the night. Rollheiser suffers his first shootout loss of the season, stopping 27 of 29 shots. Carr earned the win, stopping 20 of 22 he faced.
Wichita went 0-for-3 on the power play. Tulsa went 0-for-3 on the man advantage.
The Thunder returns home Sunday afternoon for the first time since November 28th to host the Cincinnati Cyclones at 5:05 p.m.
With Wichita Thunder team release
Contact the photographer: Ed.Bailey@prohockeynews.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.