Oilers Fall To Riverkings
Tulsa raises the winless streak against Memphis to 4
February 15, 2003
by Janna Kinder  TulsaHockey.net

The Tulsa Oilers made a trip to the DeSoto County Civic Center where they're all-time record is 0-5-0. Memphis ended Tulsa's five game winning streak and made sure that Tulsa continued its winless record in the DCCC.

With Dallas Anderson in the penalty box, Tulsa's Mike Johnson sent a head man pass to Todd Marcellus who broke in alone on Memphis goaltender J.F. Racine early in the 1st period. Racine was able to turn Marcellus' shot aside to keep the game scoreless. Memphis got on the board first at 10:17 of the frame when Michal Statsny picked up a loose puck along the boards and beat Rod Branch top shelf from the right-wing circle. Approximately two minutes later Branch denied Michal Statsny's low-slot one-timer to keep it a one-goal game.

Tulsa tied the game at the 3:58 mark of the 2nd period as Pat Hallett picked up a loose puck and rifled it off the crossbar and into the net for a powerplay goal. Despite having a 0:32 two-man advantage Tulsa was unable to take the lead. Memphis had an opportunity to break the tie while shorthanded when they started a 2-on-1 rush, but Don Parsons fanned on his shot from close range. The teams went to the locker rooms with the game tied at one.

At 6:18 of the 3rd period, Mike Mohr received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty from referee Mark Hulshof that changed the momentum. Tulsa had almost killed the penalty when Parsons scored on a rebound at 7:39. Jonathan Gagnon made the score 3-1 at 11:58 of the period. Jay Neal broke out of the Memphis defensive zone and began a 2-on-1 rush with Gagnon. Branch tried to poke check Neal's last minute pass, but the puck found Gagnon's stick and he put it into the open net. Memphis finished the scoring at the 14:59 mark when Parsons scored his 2nd of the game and 42nd of the season. Despite a last minute scramble in front of the Memphis net, Tulsa was unable to solve Racine again as he turned away three consecutive close-range shots.

Tulsa's five game winning streak ended as Memphis improved its record against the Oilers this season to 4-1-0.

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