(IceMen score five goals in the first period, coast to third straight win.)
Records: Evansville: 22-25-6-2; Tulsa: 28-23-3-2
Goalies: TUL – Olkinuora (L), 5-6-1-1, 7 saves
TUL – Carr (-), 21-17-2-0, 8 saves
EVN – Bengtsberg (W), 8-10-4-1, 31 saves
Scoring:
1st Period: 1. EVN – Duco 7 (Sims, :23); 2. EVN – Penny 7 (PP, Moon, Rumble, 2:35); 3. EVN – Humphries 2 (Leveille, Penny, 12:00); 4. EVN – Harrison 2 (Himelson, Dunn, 18:41); 5. EVN – Duco 8 (Fawcett, Sims, 19:38)
2nd Period: No Scoring
3rd Period: 6. TUL – Brewer 19 (DeSalvo, Johnston, 3:37); 7. TUL – Vladykovskii 1 (DeSalvo, Pleskach, 15:00); 8. EVN – Moon 12 (EN, unassisted, 16:01)
EVANSVILLE, IN – The Evansville IceMen exploded for five goals in the first period Saturday and coasted to their second straight 6-2 win over the Tulsa Oilers at the Ford Center. It was Evansville’s third consecutive victory and eighth straight home game with at least a point.
Veteran Mike Duco set the tone early, when he scooped up a bouncing puck off of a Tulsa turnover and ripped a shot into the top corner over the glove of Oilers goalie Jussi Olkinuora 23 seconds into the game. Late in a 5-on-3 power play, Ryan Penny batted in a loose puck to make it 2-0 just 2:35 in. Later in the period, Spencer Humphries scored the third IceMen goal after catching a pass in the right circle and snapping a shot under the crossbar.
The IceMen weren’t done. Still in the first period, Andrew Harrison fired home a one-timer in the left circle with 1:19 left. Then Duco bookended the opening period scoring with a shot that snuck under Olkinuora’s blocker from the short side with 22 seconds left.
There were only 14 combined shots in the second period with no scoring as the IceMen carried their 5-0 lead into the third. Evansville goalie Christoffer Bengtsberg made 16 saves in the first two frames, while Kevin Carr replaced Olkinuora at the start of the second and stopped all five shots.
The Oilers snapped Bengtsberg’s shutout 3:37 into the third period, when Phil Brewer stashed a rebound into an open net for his second goal of the weekend. Tulsa added another when Igor Vladykovskii deflected a puck through a net-mouth scramble over the goal line. Nathan Moon added a full-length empty net goal with 3:59 left to complete the 6-2 win. Bengtsberg finished with 31 saves.
The IceMen wrap up the weekend with a 5:15pm game Sunday against the Wichita Thunder at the Ford Center. It will be the third and final meeting of the season, after the Thunder won the first two January 3 and 27. Sunday is Faith Night in Evansville, and the band Mission 6 will be performing after the game. Fans can present their faith service program or pamphlet at the Ford Center Ticket Office for $5 off any ticket in the building.
UPCOMING HOME GAMES
Sun. 3/6 – Wichita at Evansville (5:15pm) – Ford Center
Faith Night / Subway Family Night / Last Day of Book Drive
Wed. 3/9 – Quad City at Evansville (6:15pm) – Ford Center
College Night
Sat. 3/12 – Indy at Evansville (7:15pm) – Ford Center
Baby Races
Sun. 3/13 – Quad City at Evansville (5:15pm) – Ford Center
Subway Family Night
MARCH BOOK DRIVE
Evansville’s Book Drive finishes Sunday when the IceMen take on the Wichita Thunder. Bookmarks will be handed out for every book donated, and anyone with a bookmark can present it at the Ford Center Ticket Office for a $6 ticket anywhere in the arena for the IceMen game Wednesday March 9th against Quad City. All of the books will be donated to Evansville Hangers.
FAITH SUNDAYS
Bring any pamphlet or program from your faith service to the Ford Center Ticket Office and receive a $5 discount on tickets anywhere in the building for Sunday home games! There are three remaining Sunday home games: March 6, 13 and 20. Also, stay for the free postgame faith concert after the Sunday, March 6 game against Wichita. All Sunday games are scheduled for 5:15pm.
SUNDAY – SUBWAY FAMILY NIGHT
Bring your friends and family out to the Ford Center Sunday by taking advantage of the Subway Family Night ticket special. It includes a Goal Zone or Corner ticket to the game, an IceMen Subway t-shirt, and vouchers for popcorn and a soda, all for just $21. There is also an opportunity to upgrade to Center Ice or Club seats for just $4 more. Evansville hosts Quad City this Sunday at 5:15pm.
POSTGAME SKATE – MARCH 20
IceMen Season Ticket Holders and Blizzard Buddies are welcome to participate in a postgame skate Sunday, March 20 after the IceMen take on the Cincinnati Cyclones at 5:15pm at the Ford Center. Fans are encouraged to bring their own skates if they have them, as a limited number of skates will be provided.
FRIDAY HAT PACKS
Get a ticket and a limited edition IceMen hat for only $20 for any Friday home game the rest of the season! This offer is good for any of the remaining Friday games at the Ford Center: February 26, March 4 and April 1. Call the IceMen front office at 812-421-GOAL (4625) for details.
DOMINO’S 4-GAME HAT PACK
Choose any four IceMen home games and get a FREE limited edition IceMen hat and a large 1-topping Domino’s pizza, starting at only $17 per ticket. Call the IceMen front office at 812-421-GOAL (4625) for details.
