WICHITA, Kan. – Strong goaltending, timely offense, and stifling defense have been trademarks of the Tulsa Oilers’ recent run of success in the month of March. The recipe for victory remained the same on Saturday night at INTRUST Bank Arena as the Oilers coasted past the Wichita Thunder for a 4-1 triumph and their sixth straight win. Jeff Jubinville scored twice and rookie goaltender Kevin Carr allowed just a single goal for the fifth consecutive game to lead the Oilers to another pair of precious points.At the 5:39 mark of the first period, Oilers defenseman Dave Pszenyczny motored down the right wing side of the Wichita zone and feathered a pass into the high slot for Drew Fisher who slipped a wrist shot over the left pad of Tim Boron to give Tulsa an early 1-0 advantage. Fisher found the back of the net for the first time in nearly a month and notched his 18th goal of the season. The Oilers successfully killed three Thunder power plays in the opening 20 minutes and surrendered only three shots on goal over the course of the period.
Less than five minutes into the second period, newly signed Oilers’ forwards Phil Brewer and Stephen Perfetto set up Tulsa’s second goal of the evening and registered their first points as pro hockey players. Brewer, a Bemidji State University product, moved the puck out of the Oilers’ zone and Perfetto, fresh off his collegiate career at Lake Superior State University, tapped the puck to Kyle Bochek who sped through the Wichita zone on his way to the net. Bochek dangled the puck through a pair of Thunder defensemen and slid a shot between the pads of Boron to give the visitors a 2-0 edge. After a tripping call against Thunder forward Jared Walker at 6:40 of the middle frame, Pszenyczny cranked a power play slap shot off the post and the rebound was buried by Jeff Jubinville to give the Oilers a decisive 3-0 lead. Ten minutes later, Scott Macaulay’s cross-ice pass was one-timed past Boron by Jubinville to give Tulsa a four-goal cushion. Jubinville, who has six goals in his last three games, recorded his fifth multi-goal outing of the season.
Wichita center R.G. Flath finally gave the home fans something to cheer about at 1:18 of the third as he spoiled Carr’s shutout bid with a quick snap shot from the right of the Tulsa net. The Oilers clamped down on the Thunder attack throughout the remainder of the final stanza and improved to 9-2-0 this season against Wichita in the StoneWolf Casino Cup series.
Carr and the Oilers have given up just five goals in their last six games and have won 11 of their last 13 contests. The Oilers successfully shut down seven Wichita power plays and scored a power play goal of their own for a third straight game.
With Tulsa Oilers team release
Contact the photographer: les.stockton@prohockeynews.com
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