TULSA, Okla. – The Tulsa Oilers put forth a solid effort, but ultimately came up short, falling 3-1 to the Allen Americans on Saturday night in front of a crowd of 3,092 at the BOK Center. The win puts the Americans in position to clinch the best-of-seven series in game five on their home ice.
For the second night in a row, Tulsa’s penalty kill unit was spotless, keeping the Americans from scoring on the power play on just two man advantages. The Oilers outshot the Americans for the first time in the series (32-29), but Allen netminder Joel Rumpel (2-0) shut the door, allowing just one goal on the night.
Allen’s Gary Steffes
Allen claimed the lead 13:26 into the opening period when Gary Steffes put a shot off the cross bar and into the net for his fourth of the playoffs. Kevin Young was awarded the assist on the goal after the officials had a conference and decided the puck did cross the goal line, despite protests from Carr and the Oilers. Allen also jumped out to a 14-9 shot advantage as they carried the 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
The middle frame again proved to provide most of the action, as it has the whole series.
Allen Captain Jamie Schaafsma
Allen increased their lead just 1:51 into the period on a shorthanded, unassisted goal by Jamie Schaafsma. With Trevor Ludwig serving a tripping minor, Carr knocked a loose puck away from Allen’s Spencer Asuchak that found Schaafsma’s stick. Schaafsma then moved around Carr and lifted a shot over Oilers defenseman Nathan Lutz for a 2-0 lead.
Just over three minutes later, Tulsa would find their lone goal of the night as Allen served one of their five consecutive penalties in the period. Tommy Mele took a cross-ice pass from T.J. Caig and tucked the puck past Rumple’s skate at 5:33 to cut the lead to one goal. The goal came on the power play, Tulsa’s fourth of the playoffs.
The score would remain 2-1 as the teams headed to intermission following a short skirmish at the end of the period between Allen’s Chad Costello and Tulsa’s Scott Macaulay that resulted in each player receiving roughing minors. Tulsa outshot Allen in the second period, 15-8, but was unable to tie the game.
The Oilers had two power play chances in the third period, but were denied by Rumple and Allen would ice the game on an empty-net goal by Greger Hanson at 19:16.
Both teams have struggled on the power play in this series, with Tulsa connecting on four of 24 chances and Allen netting three goals on 20 chances. The Oilers have scored a power play goal in the last three games while Allen has failed to score on the man advantage in the last two contests.
The series now shifts back to the Allen Event Center for a critical game five on Tuesday night. A win for Allen would clinch the series, while a Tulsa win would set up a game six in Tulsa on Thursday night. Puck drop on Tuesday is set for 7:05 pm CDT.
Contact the writer: john.hall@prohockeynews.com
Contact the photographer: les.stockton@prohockeynews.com
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