FINAL FRAME GIVES CYCLONES VICTORY ON HOME OPENER

FINAL FRAME GIVES CYCLONES VICTORY ON HOME OPENER

Oilers host sixth-largest crowd in ECHL history in home-opening loss

TULSA, Okla. —The Tulsa Oilers, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks and the AHL’s San Diego Gulls and powered by Community Care, lost 7-4 to the Cincinnati Cyclones on Saturday night at the BOK Center.

Patrick Polino scored his team-leading third goal of the season on the Cyclones’ first shot just 1:32 into the action — a power-play conversion. Tulsa followed up, leveling the game 1-1 with 44 seconds remaining in the period. Affiliated defenseman Andy Carroll notched his first professional goal, depositing a rebound at even strength. Zach Andrusiak potted his second of the season just 32 seconds later, giving Cincinnati a 2-1 lead heading into the opening intermission.

Dante Sheriff became the first Oiler to score multiple goals in 2023-24, beating Olof Lindbom 1:27 into the middle frame to tie the game at twos. Kalvyn Watson put Tulsa up for the first time on the season, tipping a shot from Carroll into the back of the net 7:25 into the second period. Andrusiak potted his second of the game, snapping a bouncing puck past Tomas Suchanek to tie the game 3-3. Jake Gaudet potted the second, power-play goal of the game for Cincinnati with 6:22 left in the middle period, restoring a one-goal lead for the Cyclones.

Cincinnati took off in the final frame, with Vaive and Polino scoring back-to-back unanswered goals 2:38 apart. Watson found his second of the game via a deflection 15:35 after, but Luka Burzan closed the scoring 7-4 just 45 seconds later.