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Oilers Take No Bull in 2-1 Win over Brahmas
Veteran Forwards Notch Shorthanded Goals in Victorious Rally
December 27, 2002
by Janna Kinder
TulsaHockey.net
The Tulsa Oilers earned a much needed win Friday
night, rallying in the third period for a 2-1 victory over the Fort Worth Brahmas in front of an announced crowd of 2,906 at the Forth Worth Convention Center.
What has become one of the most potent
tandems in the Central Hockey League this season - Tulsa veteran forwards Todd Marcellus and Jamie Steer - struck twice with shorthanded goals to lift the Oilers to victory over the Brahmas in their first of
three straight games to be played this weekend.
More importantly, the win helped the Oilers maintain an 11 point advantage over the Oklahoma City Blazers, who also were victorious on Friday night,
dropping the Amarillo Gorillas in a 4-1 decision. Tulsa's record now stands at 22-6-2.
Oiler netminder Rod Branch put on a strong showing, stopping 26 of 27 shots and improving to 20-3-2 for the
season.
Following a scoreless first period, the Brahmas grabbed a 1-0 lead when left winger Chad Woollard fed a lead pass to a streaking Joe Van Volsen, who broke in alone on Branch, beating him with
a shot stickside at 10:40 of the second period for his eigth goal of the season. Jason Reesor was awarded the second assist on the opening goal.
At 5:37 of the third period, Oiler defenseman Mike
Johnson stole the puck from a Brahma player in the Tulsa zone during a Ft. Worth power play, sending a lead pass to Marcellus on the left wing. Marcellus fed the puck to Steer in the right circle with Steer
putting a shot past Brahma netminder Matt Mullinto tie the game at 1. The goal was Steer's fourth in three games and 16th of the year.
Following a goaltender change by Fort Worth, in which goaltender
Jason Fricker was inserted into the game briefly, Marcellus struck for a shorthanded tally, breaking in on Fricker and scoring on a backhander at 13:44 of the third. Marcellus' 20th goal of the season was
originally announced as an unassisted goal but later changed with an assist being awarded to Steer. Of the twelve shorthanded goals the Oilers have scored this season, Marcellus has scored half of them.
The Oilers return to home ice Saturday night for a game against the Memphis RiverKings. Start time is set for 7:35 p.m. |
