TULSA, OK – Dean Stewart scored with just over three minutes to go in regulation, which helped Wichita take a 2-1 win on Saturday night against Tulsa at the BOK Center.
The Thunder scored back-to-back goals after trailing after 20 minutes to claim their first regulation victory in the season-series against the Oilers. Peter Crinella scored his third of the year and Alex Sakellaropoulos was solid in net, stopping 35 shots.
Tulsa got on the board first at 9:32 of the opening frame. Justin Taylor recorded his third of the year to make it 1-0. The Oilers outshot the Thunder, 15-3, in the first period.
In the second, Crinella tied the game at 3:24. He blocked a shot in the defensive zone and raced the other way. His initial shot missed the net, but he found a loose puck behind Devin Williams. Crinella came out in front and fired a backhand past the Tulsa netminder. The contest headed to the third locked up at one.
With time winding down in regulation, Wichita won a face-off in its own zone. Jay Dickman flipped a pass off the dasher near the penalty boxes. Stewart won a race for the puck and beat Williams as he was falling down for his second of the year. The Oilers had a late power play as Mathieu Gagnon was called for cross checking. Wichita was able to hold the fort and held on for the win.
Stewart has goals in back-to-back games and netted his first game-winner of his career. Dickman and Anthony Beauregard picked up the assists.
The Thunder return to the ice on Sunday afternoon when they host the Kansas City Mavericks for a 5:05 p.m. faceoff at the INTRUST Bank Arena.
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