ALEXANDER PICKS UP FIRST OILERS SHUTOUT AS OILERS DOMINATE AMERICANS

ALEXANDER PICKS UP FIRST OILERS SHUTOUT AS OILERS DOMINATE AMERICANS

Gage Alexander records his first shutout as an Oiler, the second of his pro career as Oilers defeat Americans 6-0 in Allen

ALLEN, Texas. —The Tulsa Oilers, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks and the AHL’s San Diego Gulls and powered by Community Care, shutout the Allen Americans 6-0 at the Credit Union of Texas Event Center on Sunday afternoon.

Eddie Matsushima opened the scoring in the game, sniping Chase Perry five hole on an unassisted breakaway as a penalty kill expired to give the Oilers a 1-0 lead with 6:43 remaining in the first. Dante Sheriff tucked a power-play shot from the perimeter with 50 seconds left in the period, giving the Oilersa  2-0 lead heading into the opening break.

Alec Butcher extended Tulsa’s lead to three 5:08 into the second period, wiring a wrister past Chase Perry, chasing the goaltender from the game. Matsushima tallied his second of the afternoon nearly exactly a period after his first, using Eric Williams as a screen to beat Marco Costantini off a face off win by Kyle Crnkovic. Jarod Hilderman cranked home the Oilers fifth of the game — a right-point clapper, securing a 5-0 lead heading into the final period.

Crnkovic picked up a goal of his own for a three-point outing 9:05 into the final frame, closing the shutout score line 6-0 in Tulsa’s favor. Anthony Firriolo recorded his first point as an Oiler on the goal and Matsushima added his third point of the afternoon. 

Gage Alexander stopped 27 of 27 shots for his first ECHL and Oilers shutout. His first pro shutout came one year to the date with the San Diego Gulls against the Henderson Silver Knights.

The Oilers continue on the road next week, taking on the Wichita Thunder on Wednesday, March 13 at INTRUST Bank Arena at 7:05 p.m.