Game Preview: Oilers vs. Mavericks

GAME INFORMATION

Tulsa Oilers @ Missouri Mavericks 7:05 p.m.
Watch on ECHL-TV

Listen on Ustream

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

5-5-1-1

All-time: 20-42-5

TEAM CAPSULES

Tulsa Oilers

Overall: 33-30-3-2 (71 points)

Home: 21-10-3-1

Road: 12-20-0-1

Rank: 3rd in Central Division

Missouri Mavericks

Overall: 51-13-3-2 (107 points)

Home: 29-5-0-1

Road: 22-8-3-1

Rank: 1st in Central Division  

OILERS LEADERS

Goals:  Phil Brewer – 19

Assists:  Dennis Brown – 27

Points: Adam Pleskach – 40

+/-:  Dennis Brown +14

PIM: Mathieu Gagnon – 132

MAVERICKS LEADERS

Goals:  Jesse Root – 26

Assists: Tyler Barnes – 37

Points:  Tyler Barnes – 61

+/-:  Jesse Root, +34

PIM: Sebastien Sylvestre – 66

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP

The Oilers and Mavericks will dance on the ice one last night before potentially meeting up in Round 1 of the playoffs. No other team has had success over the Mavericks quite the way Tulsa has. The Oilers are 5-5-1-1 against the Mavericks. Over the weekend, the Allen Americans became the second team with five wins against them. Tulsa will compete for a much needed two points.

ROAD TO KELLY

The Tulsa Oilers are ninth in the Western Conference Standings—just one spot out of the final playoff position. Tulsa will look to increase their 71 points this week as they have an opportunity for an extra eight. If the Oilers won all four of their games this week and Quad City did a fair share of losing, Tulsa could jump on that magic number and earn a spot.

BITING BATE

Forward Shawn Bates recently joined the Oilers roster. In his first four games, the newcomer has recorded three goals. Bates, out of Merrimack College, owns five points in six games with the Tulsa. The Vermilion, Alberta native came to the Oilers off waiver claims after spending 17 games in the ECHL with the Atlanta Gladiators.

POWER [PLAY] HOUSE

When in the BOK Center, the Oilers bring it. In their own home, the Oilers are second in the ECHL on the power play. Tulsa may be in last place on the road with the man advantage but at home they have 21.4% just behind the Fort Wayne Komets. They have 21 total power play goals on 98 attempts in 35 games.

MOOSE MOVES

The Moose still have Oilers’ leading goal scorer, Dan DeSalvo, on loan. DeSalvo, on a contact with Tulsa, made his AHL debut with the Moose where he produced an assist. In his second game, DeSlavo tallied his first AHL goal against the Grand Rapids Griffins on Friday, March 11. In 11 games, the forward has seven points. Last week goaltender Jussi Olkinoura was both recalled by the Manitoba Moose then reassigned to Tulsa.

#ECHLMarchMASKness

The ECHL is hosting a social media contest during the month of March. An image of each team’s selected mask will go ‘head to head’ against another in a Twitter poll—giving fans the chance to vote for what they think is cooler. The bracket began with 16 chosen teams--of which the Oilers were selected.  Kevin Carr’s special Alzheimer’s mask has advanced through rounds one, two and three. The Finals have commenced between the Oilers ‘#ENDALZ’ mask and the