Tulsa, Okla. — Tulsa Oilers, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks and the AHL’s San Diego Gulls, and powered by Community Care, outpaced the Allen Americans in a back-and-forth, 5-4 victory.
Max Itagaki began his professional career by opening the scoring, 2:10 into the first period after finding himself all alone in front of the goal, slipping the puck past the pads of Jesper Vikman to make it 1-0 Tulsa. Allen’s Chase Coughlin responded for the Americans to tie the game just 0:33 later to even the score at 1-1. The Americans snagged their first lead of the night at the 14:18 mark of the opening period via a Miko Matikka goal and forced Tulsa’s deficit to 2-1. At the 16:35 mark of the opening frame, Ethan Benz tied the game 2-2 after tucking the puck just past the right pad of Vikman on a wide-open rush to the net, ending the first-period scoring.
Just 1:19 into the second, Kyle Kukkonen, on a short-handed break to the net, picked the right corner against the grain on a breakaway on his off-wing side of the slot to give the Oilers a 3-2 advantage, making his first professional goal in his first professional game meaningful. After Allen bounced back with a goal of their own from Sam Lipkin to tie the game again, Itagaki found his second pro-goal on a back-door feed to push Tulsa ahead 4-3 at the 10:41 mark of the middle frame. Allen’s Mathiaeu De St. Phalle, with just 0:33 left in the period, tied the game, ending the second period scoring at 4-4.
Zachary Murray collected the lone tally of the third period at the 5:34 mark of the final period, slamming in a rebound sitting near the bottom portion of the right circle off a Kukkonen shot from the slot. The Murray game-winning goal sealed a 5-4 Oilers win to open the new season.
The Tulsa Oilers head on the road to face the Wichita Thunder on October 23 at INTRUST Bank Arena. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. CT.
Oilers Season and Group Tickets are on sale now! Call the Oilers front office at 918-632-PUCK (7825) or visit www.tulsaoilers.com for more information.
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