Both goaltenders piled up several key saves, keeping the game scoreless through the opening two frames.
The Oilers clinched their playoff spot thanks to Jack Doremus deflecting a right-circle shot from Carson Denomie 3:38 into the final frame, scoring the game-winning goal on his 25th birthday.
Daniel Mannella turned aside all 26 Rapid City shots to pick up first-star honors, his second ECHL shutout of the season and his third professional shutout of his rookie year.
With the regulation win and Idaho losing 4-3 in regulation to the Utah Grizzlies, Tulsa punched its ticket to the playoffs for the first time since the 2018-19 season. Due to Covid regulations, the Oilers have reached the playoffs in back-to-back seasons in which every ECHL team participated in the season.
Tulsa closes out the regular season with the final game of a three-game series at the Monument in Rapid City, SD tomorrow, April 16 at 8:05 p.m. CT.
With Tulsa Oilers release
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