Oilers top Arizona to end five-game home loss streak
BY JOHN RITTENOURE World Correspondent
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
1/23/13 at 4:37 AM
Tulsa goalie Shane Madolora was less than five minutes from his first professional shutout Tuesday night in Central Hockey League action at the BOK Center. Tulsa was leading 4-0 in the third period when a couple of freak Arizona goals ended the shutout hopes.
The scoring wasn't enough to dampen the celebration, as the Oilers turned back the Arizona Sundogs 4-2.
The win snapped a five-game home losing streak dating back to Dec. 28 when the Oilers (12-26-3) defeated Quad City 5-3. The Sundogs (18-19-4) have never won at the BOK Center and lost to Tulsa for the second time this season.
Goals by Ben Gordon, Michel Beausoleil, Ryan Barlock and a final goal by Kyle O'Kane, his first goal as an Oiler, had Tulsa up by four goals 8:34 into the final period.
Madolora, who started 11 of the last 12 games in goal for the Oilers, could almost feel a shutout coming on.
"Going into the first (period) they were having a lot of shots and I was seeing the puck and controlling the rebounds well," said Madolora, who played last year for Fayetteville of the SPHL. "Going into the third I was feeling pretty good. It has been a while since I got one. In school I had a lot of them.
"I was starting to get excited."
However, with less than five minutes to play, a crowd jammed up against the net, overpowered Madolora, forcing the puck into the net.
"There was a scrum behind the net and their guy (Arizona) came out in front and jammed it," Madolorasaid. "I tried to stick it away and it got stuck right on my pad. I tried to kick it off to the side and their guy was just standing right there jamming it in. It was loose sitting on my pad and I could not get it covered."
With 59 seconds left in the game, a freak bounce gave the Sundogs their second goal.
"It deflected up and I tried to stick it into the corner out of the air and it flipped up in the air," Madolora said. "I don't know what happened after that. I think it went in off my shoulder."
The win was big for the Oilers, who are chasing Arizona for the final playoff spot.
"The only disappointing part is giving up two goals at the end," said Oilers coach Bruce Ramsay.
"It is a good win by the boys. That team (Arizona) has been on fire lately. They are 7-3 in their last 10 games and they just beat Allen."
Game Notes: Tulsa travels to Missouri (20-13-4) on Saturday before returning home on Tuesday to host the Denver Cutthroats (19-15-4) for the first time this season.
OILERS 4, SUNDOGS 2
| Arizona |
0 |
0 |
2 |
- |
2 |
| Tulsa |
1 |
1 |
2 |
- |
4 |
First Period: 1, Tulsa, Gordon, 21 (Menei, Fisher) 19:05. Penalties: Arizona, Coles (too many men) :49. Tulsa, Menei (holding) 11:22. Tulsa Barlock (holding) 15:41.
Second Period: 2, Tulsa, Beausoleil, 15 (Buvinow, Menei) 14:34 (pp). Penalties: Arizona, Frigate (interference) 5:59. Arizona, McCready (hooking) 12:48. Arizona, Langlais (hooking) 18:30.
Third Period: 3, Tulsa, Barlock, 2 (unassisted) 5:38. 4, Tulsa, OKane, 1 (Maraini) 8:34. 5, Arizona, Petovello, 6 (Purves) 15:41. 6, Arizona, Morgan, 10 (unassisted) 19:01. Penalties: Arizona, Leblanc (slashing) 19:17.
Power Plays: Arizona, 0-2. Tulsa, 1-5.
Shots: Arizona, 16-8-14--38. Tulsa, 7-15-6--28.
Saves: Arizona, Brown 6-14-4--24. Tulsa, Madolora 16-8-12--36.
Referee: Boone Bruggman. A: 3,150.
Original Print Headline: Oilers top Arizona, end home loss streak
Associated Images:
Oiler Ben Gordon (13) fights to keep the puck from Arizona defenders during the Oilers' 4-2 win at the BOK Center on Tuesday. JAMES GIBBARD/Tulsa World
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