TULSA, Okla. – The Tulsa Oilers mustered only 22 shots on goal and racked up a season-high 61 penalty minutes in a 5-0 loss to the Rapid City Rush in front of 6,505 on Saturday night at the BOK Center. The Oilers, on the heels of a 5-2 setback to Rapid City on Friday, dropped back-to-back games for the first time since January and were shutout for the third time this season.
Rapid City was on the board with just over four minutes gone by in the first period thanks to Kevin Harvey, who tipped the puck past Shane Madolora for his second goal of the season. In an impressive individual effort late in the opening frame, Rush forward Jared Brown gave his team a two-goal advantage. Brown showcased his speed by blazing into Oilers territory and displayed his strength by muscling his way to the front of the Oilers net before sliding the puck underneath Madolora to cap off an unassisted tally, his 14th of the year.
Anthony Perdicaro, fresh off a one-game suspension, pushed the Rapid City lead to 3-0 at the 4:12 mark of the second period. Perdicaro blocked Ryan Menei’s shot in his own zone and sped up the ice to rip a wrist shot past the glove of Madolora. For the second night in a row, the Rush carried a 3-0 edge over the Oilers into the third period.
At 2:40 of the final frame, Jesse Schultz’ right wing snap shot deflected into the net off the glove of Madolora to give the visitors a commanding 4-0 advantage. Just 40 seconds later, Winston Day Chief sizzled a wrist shot from the left face off circle that beat Madolora and ended the goaltender’s night. Madolora was pulled from the game after surrendering five goals on 17 shots in 43 minutes of action. With the game out of their reach, the Oilers’ discipline started to unravel. Over the final 15 minutes of the contest, Tulsa was assessed 49 penalty minutes including three, ten-minute misconducts.
The lone bright spot for the Oilers was their penalty kill which successfully eliminated 11 Rapid City power play opportunities. The Rush failed to score on three separate five-on-three advantages in the third period and finished the season series against the Oilers with just one goal in 24 power play chances.
The five-goal drubbing was Tulsa’s worst defeat since an 8-2 debacle against Wichita on December 27. The Oilers drop to 29-25-3 overall and remain in seventh place in the CHL standings with nine games remaining. Tulsa returns to action in Wichita on Friday, March 14 to begin a string of five consecutive games against the Thunder.
With Tulsa Oilers team release
Contact the photographer: les.stockton@prohockeynews.com