Pleskach milestone lifts Oilers over Thunder 3-2

TULSA, Okla. – Tulsa Oilers captain Adam Pleskach’s late third period goal against the Wichita Thunder on Sunday wasn’t just the game winning goal. The eighth-year Oiler’s power play goal was also the 200th goal of his professional career. An announced crowd of 3,025 at the BOK Center witnessed history, as the Pleskach marker gave Tulsa it’s fourth-straight win over Wichita in the last four games.

Pleskach seems to have a nack for hitting career milstones in storybook fashion. On February 1, 2019 he moved to second on the Oilers’ all-time goals list, scoring a hat trick during a road win at Toledo.

Returning home after three-straight wins at Wichita, Tulsa got onto the board first when defenseman Mike McKee scored unassisted at 11:22 into the opening frame. An arrent clearing attempt by the Wichita defense, resulted in a steal for McKee, who then blasted a shot from the slot over the glove of Thunder goalie Evan Weninger to make it 1-0.

Wichita battled back and tied the game 2:30 into the second period on a Peter Crinella goal from Brayden Watts and Dean Stewart. Crinella took a pass near the right circle, and fired a shot past Tulsa goaltender Devin Williams to make it 1-1.

The Oilers answered at 8:02 when Tyler Kobryn carried the puck in on net from the left wing, then beat Weninger through the five hole to score. McKee and Justin Hamonic picked up assists on the play.

Tulsa would hold the 2-1 lead going into the final period.

Matteo Gennaro knotted the score at 2-2 with a power play goal 8:51 into the third on assists from Austin McIlmurray and Anthony Beauregard. The score came with Pleskach serving a minor penalty, Tulsa’s seveth of the evening.

Just under six-minutes later, Pleskach would find the net for number 200, after collecting a rebound and sending a backhander into the net to make it 3-2. From there, Williams and the Oilers defense would hold off the Wichita attack to secure the win.

With the win, Tulsa improves to 16-14-2-1 on the season to remain in fifth place in the Western Conference. Wichita holds the second position in the Western Conference with a record of 20-9-4-1.

The Oilers now prepare for a four game home-and-home series with the Allen Americans (19-10-1-0), beginning on Wednesday.

Wichita returns home to Intrust Bank Arena for a Wednesday evening contest against the Indy Fuel (22-8-2-0) before traveling to West Virginia for a three-game road series against the Wheeling Nailers (8-19-5-0) beginning on Friday.

Contact the writer: John.Hall@ProHockeyNews.com

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