OILERS SHOWCASE DEPTH AND BALANCE IN 7-3 ROUT OF BLAZE

TULSA, OK – Maybe giving up the first goal of the game was exactly what the Oilers needed.  After trailing 1-0 in the first period, Tulsa (10-6-2) scored six unanswered goals and rolled to a 7-3 victory over the Bloomington Blaze (3-11-2) in front of 4,802 at the BOK Center.

Box Score

Oilers defenseman Gio Flamminio tied the contest at a goal apiece when he came speeding off the bench to one-time a Dylan Clarke feed pass Zane Kalemba.  It was Flamminio’s first goal of the season and his first as an Oiler.  Just two and a half minutes later, CHL Rookie of the Month Mike Ullrich gave the home side its first lead of the night with a powerplay goal.  For Ullrich, it was his league-leading 13th marker of the season.  The Oilers now have at least one powerplay goal in eight straight games.

The Tulsa offense continued its surge in the second period with goals by Michel Beausoleil, Ryan Raven, Jason Weeks, and a shorthanded tally by Gary Steffes.  The Oilers had 34 shots on goal through two periods and took a 6-2 lead into the second intermission.

In the third, Vladimir Nikiforov’s second goal of the game cut the Oilers lead to 6-3, but Dylan Clarke answered right back for Tulsa and beat Kalemba on a breakaway to push the Tulsa lead back to four.  Clarke’s opening was created by a gorgeous feed by Jay Sprague who saw time on the Oilers top line due to the absence of Ryan Cramer.

Ian Keserich made 34 stops on 37 shots and earned his ninth win.  Five Oilers finished the night with multiple points and the seven goals scored is Tulsa’s highest offensive output of the season.