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Oilers Stay Perfect Against Blazers in 3-1 Victory
Rookie Steenbergen Gets Game Winner in Turnpike Battle
December 20, 2002
by Janna Kinder
TulsaHockey.net
The Tulsa Oilers continued their dominance of the
Oklahoma City Blazers Friday night, winning 3-1 and improving to 4-0 over their turnpike rivals.
The Oilers record improved to a Northwest Division leading 21-5-1 and now stand 14 points ahead of
Oklahoma City, who dropped to 14-10-1 with the loss.
Oiler netminder Rod Branch put on another stellar performance, stopping 29 of 30 shots.
Tulsa grabbed an early lead when forward Todd
Marcellus fed the puck to defenseman Mike Johnson, who was the trailer in an odd man rush. Johnson blasted a slap shot from the high slot into the left corner of the net, beating Oklahoma City goaltender
Aren Miller stickside at 1:14 of the first period. Veteran forward Jamie Steer was awarded the second assist on Johnson's 2nd goal of the season.
The Blazers tied the game at 1 at 5:54 of the second
period when Joe Burton stole the puck from an Oiler defenseman deep in the Tulsa zone and fired a quick low shot from the mid slot, beating Branch stickside for an unassisted goal.
Shortly after
Blazer tough guy Marco Cefalo was whistled for instigation and slashing minors, the Oilers re-took the lead when rookie forward Lyle Steenbergen collected his own rebound in the right crease area of the
Blazer goal, stuffing the puck into the net at 16:42 of the second for his 4th goal of the season. Assists were awarded to Chris Johnston and Johnson.
Tulsa cashed in on another power play opportunity
when Aaron Millar, upon receiving a pass from left winger Pat Hallett who was camped at the right side of the Blazer net, one timed a shot into the upper left corner of the net at 18:24 of the second for his
7th goal of season to give the Oilers a 3-1 lead.
The Oilers return to action tomorrow night when they face the Wichita Thunder. The puck drops at 7:35 p.m. at the Tulsa Convention Center. |
