TULSA, Okla. – For the second straight game, the Tulsa Oilers fell behind by two goals and for the second straight game, the Oilers came back to win in the third period. In front of 5,244 at the BOK Center, the Oilers scored four unanswered goals to beat the Allen Americans 5-3.
Jarrett Lukin’s second goal of the game at 6:54 of the second period gave Allen a 3-1 advantage but the resilient Oilers refused to go away. Dylan Clarke hammered home a rebound off a Sean Erickson slap shot and Tulsa found itself down by only a goal after forty minutes of play.
It didn’t take long for the home team to even the score in the third. Just 12 seconds into the period, Gary Steffes redirected David Solway’s pass into the net. It was Steffes’ second tally of the game and it brought the Oilers to life.
34 more seconds had ticked off the clock when the Oilers took the lead. Clarke swatted a pass from Erickson that bounced over Americans’ goalie Marco Cousineau and trickled into the net. The power play tally gave Tulsa its first lead of the night and Clarke wasn’t finished.
Halfway through the period, Clarke sped down the left wing, made a quick move to the high slot and wristed a laser past Cousineau to give the Oilers a two-goal cushion.
Clarke had a chance at a four-goal night when he was awarded a penalty shot late in the game, but the Oilers’ rookie winger couldn’t convert the opportunity.
Ian Keserich made 37 saves for his 14th victory of the season. The veteran netminder shut out the Americans during the final 33 minutes of the contest.
The Oilers have now won five of their last six games and stand just three points back of first place in the Berry Conference.
Pro Hockey News’ Les Stockton photographed all the action at the BOK Center on Tuesday evening and has submitted the following images from the contest.
Tulsa%27s Gary Steffes and Allen%27s Jason Deitsch ready for a face off.
Tulsa%27s Mike Ullrich is pursued by Allen winger Nick Layton.
Allen defenseman Dominic D%27Amour straddles Tulsa%27s Gary Steffes during a scrape early in the middle frame.
Tulsa%27s David Solway moves the puck up ice.
Tulsa goalie Ian Keserich take a break. Keserich stopped 37 of 40 shots faced for his 14th win of the season during Tuesday night%27s game.
Rulsa%27s Mike Ullrich moves the puck as Allen%27s Jason Deitsch follows.
Tulsa%27s Dylan Clarke sends in one of his three goals of the game.
Allen center Brian McMillin passes the puck as Tulsa%27s Mike Ullrich pursues.
Allen defensemen Dominic D%27Amour and Tyler Ludwig watch as the puck passes Marco Cousineau for another Tulsa tally.
Tulsa will play the first of four straight road games Friday night at Rapid City.
Contact the photographer at les.stockton@prohockeynews.com
Contact the editor at robert.keith@prohockeynews.com
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