PHN’s Best Shots of the Game: Kucera Notches Oilers Overtime Win, 2-1

TULSA, Okla. – The Oilers may have been outshot 38-24 on a Wednesday night in Tulsa but they would not be outscored as the home team prevailed over the South Carolina Stingrays in a 2-1 overtime victory.

The Tulsa Oilers earned the first point of the evening on Axel Blomqvist’s goal 6:20 into the first period. Forward Jimmy Lodge gathered the puck and worked it in the Stingrays end before passing it to Christophe Lalancette who slapped it to Blomqvist in time to get the puck past Washington Capitals’ second round draft pick, Vietk Vanecek.

Midway through the first, Mathieu Gagnon and former New York Islander, Trevor Gillies, dropped the gloves and took seven minutes each.

Shortly after their power play expired, the Stingrays put themselves on the board two minutes into the second frame. Kevin Carr was high in the paint when South Carolina’s Brett Cameron grabbed a pass from Stephan Vigier and tallied to tie things up 1-1.

The third was scoreless as both Carr and Vanecek stood tall for their respective teams. Carr would tie the Oilers season high with 37 shots stopped and the contest would be determined in overtime.

His second overtime game winner, and third goal in the last five games, defenseman Connor Kucera would be the hero to give his team the victory over the only matchup with the South Carolina Stingrays of the season. Kucera’s powerplay goal gave the Oilers a 2-1 win and pushed their record 23-17-2-2.

The Oilers return to the BOK Center Friday, Saturday and Sunday night for more ECHL action. Friday and Saturday, Tulsa hosts the Quad City Mallards at 7:05 p.m. In a Valentine’s Day special, the Oilers welcome the Wichita Tunder to town at 4:05 p.m. on Sunday.

With Tulsa Oilers release

Contact the photographer: Les.Stockton@prohockeynews.com