WICHITA, KS – It took the Tulsa Oilers (38-21-6) 62 minutes and 16 seconds to get its first lead Sunday in a thrilling 6-5 come-from-behind overtime win over the Wichita Thunder (24-30-11) at INTRUST Bank Arena. The Oilers swept the Thunder by identical scores and won their franchise-record 38th game, moving one point behind Idaho for first place in the Mountain Division with seven games remaining.
Stefan Fournier gave the Thunder an early lead with a wraparound goal 33 seconds into the game, and Wichita added to its lead when Mark MacMillan slid a shot between the legs of Ian Keserichfrom the right circle on a Thunder power play late in the frame. Tulsa trailed 2-0 after 20 minutes and only managed six shots against Wichita goaltender Stuart Skinner.
The second period featured six combined goals, as Tulsa scored four times to force a 4-4 tie entering the final frame. Steven Kaunisto buried a rebound from the right circle to make it 2-1, before Wichita’s Jakob Stukel threw a shot through traffic into the Oilers net while falling to his knees to put the Thunder back in front by a pair. Adam Pleskach lifted a loose puck past Skinner to make it 3-2 with his league-leading 35th goal of the season. Stephen Perfetto then scored early in an Oilers power play to tie the game at 3-3. The Thunder went back ahead when Stukel scored his second of the period on a wraparound for Wichita’s second power play marker of the game, but Tulsa’s Ryan Tesink blasted a one-timer on a delayed penalty to even the score at 4-4.
MacMillan sent a shot through a screen from the point to give Wichita their third lead 4:32 into the third period, but Roman Ammirato did the same at the other end 26 seconds later to knot up the score 5-5. The game went to overtime, and Alex Dostie completed the Oilers comeback 2:16 into the extra period to send Tulsa to its second straight 6-5 win.
The Oilers travel back to Wichita next Friday for another 7:05 p.m. match-up at INTRUST Bank Arena. Tulsa then returns home for two games Saturday and Sunday against the Utah Grizzlies at the BOK Center.
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