PHN’s Best Shots of the Game: Oilers fall to Thunder on the road

WICHITA, Kan. —The Oilers lost 5-1 to the Wichita Thunder at INTRUST Bank Arena on Saturday.

Matteo Gennaro opened the scoring 10:08 into the game, guiding a cross-zone feed from Tim Soderlund into the top corner to give Wichita a 1-0 lead.

Wichita Thunder forward Matteo Gennaro (34), Tulsa Oilers forward Jordan Ernst (16)

Soderlund tallied a goal of his own 13:23 into the middle frame, roofing a breakaway chance over the shoulder of Mason McDonald to extend Wichita’s lead to two. Jimmy Soper cut the Thunder lead in half, uncorking a wrister from the left circle past Evan Buitenhuis with 2:05 left in the second. Eddie Matshumia picked up the primary assist, giving the centerman four points and three primary assists in his last two outings.

Tulsa Oilers defenseman Jared Hilderman (3)

Christian Hausinger fired home a point shot 9:13 into the third period to put the score 3-1 in Wichita’s favor. Peter Crinella launched a backhander from beneath the circles with 6:50 left in the third frame, giving the Thunder a three-goal lead. Gennaro iced the game with his second of the game — a power-play goal — with 4:06 remaining, closing the score line 5-1 in Wichita’s favor.

Tulsa Oilers goalie Mason MacDonald (1)

Tulsa returns to INTRUST Bank Arena on Friday, Nov. 26 to square off against the Thunder for the third-straight game. The Oilers then come home for back-to-back games against the Utah Grizzlies at the BOK Center on Saturday, Nov. 27 and Sunday, Nov. 28. Saturday’s game starts at 7:05 p.m., and the team’s annual Adopt-an-Oiler Auction will take place in the RiverSpirit Lounge after the game.