Box Score

OILERS OVERCOME SLOW START TO BEAT BEES 5-4

TULSA, OK – With critical points on the line, the Oilers rose to the occasion and fought off a feisty Rio Grande Valley squad to post a 5-4 victory in front of 3,363 at the BOK Center.

The Bees set the tone for a wild first period when Dan Gendur scored just 36 seconds into the proceedings.  Dylan Clarke answered right back for Tulsa, but Zac Pearson put Rio Grande Valley back in front with a shorthanded marker at 12:16.  The Killer Bees pushed the lead to 3-1 on Gendur’s second of the game at 17:59.  Unphased, the Oilers bounced back with a pair of goals from Gary Steffes and Sean Erickson in the span of 35 seconds.  The squads went into the first intermission after an opening 20 minutes that featured six goals on 21 shots.

In the final minute of the second period, the Oilers took their first lead of the night when Scott Balan inadvertently tapped the puck into his own net on a Tulsa powerplay.  The home team’s lead lasted all of 14 seconds.  Gendur snapped a shot past Ian Keserich with nine seconds left in the period to complete his hat-trick and pull the Bees even at four apiece.

Tulsa put together a couple strong shifts early in the third and the hard work paid off.  Michel Beausoleil sent a backhand through the legs of Bees netminder Wylie Rogers to put the Oilers in front for good.  Keserich made 11 of his 24 saves in the third to preserve the win, the Oilers sixth one-goal decision in the last seven games.

Four Oilers, Mike Ullrich, Jeff Terminesi, Steffes, and Erickson, finished with multiple points as Tulsa won back-to-back games for the first time since December 27.  With points in six straight games, the Oilers have tied their longest point streak of the season. 

Tulsa returns to action Friday and Saturday for a pair of games at Allen.