Oilers head on long road spell with momentum

The Tulsa Oilers used a 3-0-1 record last week to enter the new year with an overall mark of 20-12-3 and 43 points, six points behind first-place Toledo in the Central Division.

Tulsa opened last week with a 5-2 win at Missouri on Tuesday. Garrett Ladd led the way for the Oilers with three points (2g-1a) while Shawn Bates (1g-1a), Phil Brewer (2a) and Dennis Brown (2a) each had multi-point games as well. Colin Stevens stopped 29 of the 31 shots he faced to pick up the win in goal and the Tulsa penalty-kill unit was successful on all six of the Mavericks’ power-play opportunities.

The Oilers opened a three-game home stand on Wednesday with a 3-2 overtime loss to Utah. Ladd and Emerson Clark scored in the contest for the Oilers with Stevens making 31 saves.

Tulsa returned to its winning ways on Saturday, defeating Wichita 5-3. Five different Oilers’ tallied goals in the victory with Brewer (1g-1a) and Kale Kessy (2a) leading the way with two points apiece. Jamie Phillips earned the victory in goal, stopping 36 Thunder shots, including 28 over the final two periods.

Sunday saw the Oilers break open a close contest with four goals in the second period as they once again picked up a 5-3 win over Wichita. It was another balanced offensive effort for Tulsa with five different goal scorers for the second consecutive game.

Brewer leads Tulsa on the season with 25 points (9g-16a) while Clark and Adam Pleskach are tied for the team lead with 10 goals each.

Phillips has enjoyed a successful first pro season as he leads the ECHL with 18 wins while ranking seventh overall – and first among rookies – with a 2.52 goals-against average.

Tulsa begins a seven-game road trip, and a stretch that sees the Oilers play 13 of their next 15 games on the road, this week with games at South Carolina on Tuesday, Atlanta on Thursday and Friday and Greenville on Sunday.