OILERS WIN CLOSE BATTLE WITH ALLEN

OILERS WIN CLOSE BATTLE WITH ALLENTulsa earns first home victory thanks to two short-handed goals and 33 saves from Devin Williams.

TULSA, OK – The Tulsa Oilers earned their first home win Friday, defeating the Allen American 4-3 thanks to two short-handed goals in the first meeting of 13 this season between the longtime rivals.

Tulsa jumped out to the game’s first lead, when Dylan Hubbs cleaned up a rebound in front of the Allen net 1:50 into the opening period. The Americans tied the game when Spencer Asuchak capitalized on an Oilers turnover a snuck a shot over the shoulder of Tulsa goaltender Devin Williams. Tulsa scored on its only power play of the frame, when Eric Drapluk fired a wrist shot under the crossbar to make it 2-1 entering the first intermission.

The Oilers extended their lead when Charlie Sampair raced in on a short-handed breakaway and beat Allen goaltender Stephon Williams to make it 3-1. However, the Americans closed the gap before the second break, when Peter MacArthur snuck behind the Tulsa defense and chipped a shot into the top corner of the net.

Conner Bleackley gave Tulsa a 4-2 lead late in the third period with the second Oilers short-handed goal of the night, but Zach Pochiro scored on that same power play to bring Allen back to within one. Devin Williams was sensational in the final minutes in preserving the Oilers’ 4-3 win.

The Oilers host the Allen Americans again Saturday at 7:05pm on the York Plumbing Ice at the BOK Center. Tickets are available by calling 918-632-7825 or visiting www.tulsaoilers.com. Tulsa then heads to Texas for a Sunday matinee against the Americans at 4:05pm at the Allen Event Center. Catch all the action on The Sports Animal Radio Network (99.9FM/1550AM), www.tulsaoilers.com or ECHL.TV.

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