PHN’s Best Shots of the Game: Americans hold off Oilers to take 3-1 series lead

TULSA, Okla. – A controversial goal call in the first period and shorthanded strike from Jamie Schaafsma in the second period provided the Allen Americans with all the offense they needed on Saturday night in a 3-1 victory over the Tulsa Oilers at the BOK Center. The Americans hold a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series and the Oilers will try to extend their season with a win in Game 5 on Tuesday night at the Allen Event Center.

A tight-checking first period yielded little open ice for either side until the 13:26 mark when Gary Steffes found a seam in the Oilers’ defense and moved through the middle of the Tulsa zone. The former Oiler snapped a shot over the glove of Tulsa goalie Kevin Carr that clanked off the crossbar and dropped near the goal line. One of the linesmen pointed emphatically at the net and the goal judge turned on his lamp to give Steffes his fourth goal of the playoffs. Despite furious protests from Carr and the Oilers that the puck did not cross the line, the goal was upheld and Allen took a 1-0 lead.

Less than two minutes into the second period, the Oilers enjoyed a power play but it was the Americans who were able to add to their advantage. In the middle of the Oilers’ zone, Carr swatted a loose puck away from Spencer Asuchak but was intercepted by Schaafsma. The Americans’ captain maneuvered around Carr and hoisted a backhand over sprawling defenseman Nathan Lutz for a shorthanded goal and a 2-0 Allen lead. The Americans were called for five consecutive minor penalties in the middle frame and even though the Oilers couldn’t cash in on one of their multiple 5-on-3 opportunities, Tommy Mele managed to put the home team on the board on a 5-on-4 advantage at 5:33. T.J. Caig slid a puck across the Allen crease and Mele slipped a shot past the toe of Joel Rumpel to cut the Allen lead to a single goal.

The Oilers came away empty-handed on a pair of third period power plays and Rumpel made eight of his 31 saves in the final 20 minutes to preserve the lead. An empty net tally from Greger Hanson at 19:16 gave the Americans breathing room and helped the visitors earn a split in the two contests at the BOK Center.

For the first time in four games, the Oilers outshot the Americans, 32-29, but went just 1-for-8 on the power play. Allen held Tulsa to its lowest offensive output of the series and clamped down defensively just 24 hours after surrendering five goals in a Game 3 loss. The Oilers’ tall task of winning three games in a row begins Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. in Allen. Tulsa has earned just one victory in its last eight visits to the Allen Event Center this season.