AMERICANS OUTLAST OILERS INGOALTENDERS’ DUEL
JakePaterson and Olle Eriksson Ek stopped a combined 79 shots in a 2-1 overtimevictory for the Americans.
TULSA, OK — It was the goaltenders that stole the showat the BOK Center on Sunday, with the Allen Americans winning the week’s rubbermatch 2-1 in overtime.
Head Coach Rob Murray’s former ward OlivierArchambault scored his 17th of the season to open the scoring withjust 1:58 remaining in a back-and-forth opening frame. Olle Eriksson Ekstopped Stepan Falkovsky’s initial shot and stopped Spencer Asuchak beforeArchambault crammed the puck into the back of the cage. Both teams ended theactive period with 16 shots each.
Tulsa answered the bell 4:55 into the second periodto tie the game 1-1. Jared Thomas and J.J. Piccinichpassed back-and-forth as they entered the American’s zone, creating a channelfor former Allen American Miles Liberati to sneak in and complete thetic-tac-toe play for his 10th of the season. Liberati’s tally was theonly in a period that saw Tulsa outshoot Allen 17-5.
Both goaltenders stood on their heads in the finalframe, stopping a combined 26 shots, Jake Paterson turned aside 15 and ErikssonEk saved 11.
Overtime played out the way the season’s statisticswould suggest. Coming into the night, Allen led the league with nine overtimewins, while the Oilers had won just one game in the three-on-three battle. JoshLammon blew down the right-wing wall before cutting in front of Eriksson Ek andsliding the puck through the five hole, giving the Americans their 10thovertime win just 1:09 into the extra frame.
Tulsa heads to Rapid City, SD to face the Rush inthree huge games at Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, taking place on Feb. 28, 29and March 1. The Oilers sit just one point behind the Rush, who reside in thefourth-and-final playoff spot in the Mountain Division.
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