Moynihan’s two goals powers Oilers past Americans, 4-3

TULSA, Okla. – Danny Moynihan scored twice and Charlie Sampair added a goal and assist as the Tulsa Oilers picked up their first win of the season by a score of 4-3 over the Allen Americans in front of 2,590 fans at the BOK Center on Saturday night.

Allen struck first at 2:24 of the opening period on a goal by Jake McGrew, assisted by Alex Lavoie and Samuel Laberge. Lavoie split a pair of Oilers defenders and bounced a backhander off of Oilers netminder Olle Eriksson Ek that trickled out to McGrew at the top of the crease for the quick strike and a 1-0 lead.

The Oilers kept up the offensive pressure, putting 18 shots on net during the first period, and finding the equalizer five minutes later on Moynihan’s first goal.

Much like Allen’s opening goal, Moynihan’s came off of a rebound. Sampair let loose a shot from directly in front of Americans goalie C.J. Motte, Moynihan then collected the puck and hit the back of the net from just inside the right circle to tie the game. Adam Pleskach was also credited with an assist on the play.

Tulsa gained control of the game early in the second period, with goals just under two minutes apart from Sampair and Gregg Burmaster.

Tulsa’s Danny Moynihan scoresone of his two goals against the Allen Americans on Saturday night at BOK Center / Les Stockton (PHN)

On assists from Kevin Domingue and Alex Brooks, Sampair worked in on net and released a backhander that hit Motte’s left leg and slowly trickled across the line at 1:06 of the second to give the Oilers a 2-1 lead.

Recent Anaheim assignee Maxim Golod centered a pass to Burmaster, who found the net past Motte, stick side, at 2:55 to increase the lead to two.

Allen answered right back, tying the game with two goals in just over two minutes.

McGrew found the net at 3:43, releasing a shot from between the circles on assists from Laberge and Matt Register to make it 3-2. Zane Franklin tied it up at 6:23, collecting a rebounded shot by Laberge and beating Eriksson Ek on his stick side to make it 3-3.

Moynihan netted the game winner 8:51 into the final frame, on assists from Pleskach and Stephan Beauvais. Moynihan took a pass from Pleskach, then released a backhander from inside the right circle that found the net past Motte’s glove, top shelf.

The Oilers now look ahead to a two game road trip to Utah to face off with the Grizzlies next weekend. The Americans will open a five game home stand with a pair of games against the Rapid City Rush next weekend.

Contact the writer: John.Hall@prohockeynews.com

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