TULSA, Okla. (Mar. 31) – The Tulsa Oilers returned home from nine straight road games to a sellout crowd of 16,753, but fell 4-1 Friday to the Wichita Thunder at the BOK Center, bringing the Oilers’ winless skid to nine games. The attendance number set a Tulsa attendance record and reached the second highest attended game in ECHL history.
The two teams skated through a scoreless first period with Tulsa holding a shots advantage of 13-9. Both teams were unsuccessful on two power plays in the opening frame.
The Oilers took the game’s first lead when Dennis Brown ripped a shot from the point past Wichita goaltender Drew Owsley on the power play 3:57 into the frame. The Thunder answered, when Ryan Rupert capitalized on a Thunder power play. Wichita then took its first lead on a five-minute power play late in the period, when Louick Marcotte fired a one-timer past Oilers goalie P.J. Musico with 4:57 left, giving the Thunder a 2-1 lead after two.
Rupert added a second goal late in the third period for some insurance, and Blake Tatchell picked up an empty-net goal to complete the 4-1 win.
With Tulsa Oilers release
Contact the photographer: Les.Stockton@prohockeynews.com
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