TULSA, Okla. – Those attending Fight Night at the BOK Center on Saturday got to enjoy an Oilers and Americans game as well. The Tulsa Oilers defeated the Allen Americans 3-2 in a shootout where a total of 40 fighting-major minutes were distributed. The victory advanced the home team to 30-25-3-2 for 65 points.
If you didn’t make it to your seat for the first two minutes of the Oilers game you missed Mathieu Gagnon and Reid Halabi throw heavy punches, a lot. But it wouldn’t be your last chance to see the two go at it.
The first period remained not only scoreless but also gloveless for many. Halfway through the frame Vincent Arseneau instigated a duel with defenseman Justin Mansfield. The two each earned five minutes for fighting.
Round two for Gagnon and Halabi came in period two—55 seconds into period two.
With Allen’s goaltender, James Murray, tripped up and out of his net, Phil Brewer snuck one past and tipped in the first goal of the night. The power play goal was assisted by Andrew Johnston and Connor Kucera.
Less than a minute later, a wrister from Chad Costello killed the Tulsa lead and knotted things 1-1 at the 12:10 mark of the second period.
The Americans sought vengeance again in the third just seconds after a disallowed goal. Tristan King took a quick pass and slapped it past Olkinuora to take a 2-1 advantage on the power play.
A third power play goal on the ice went to Tulsa. Adam Pleskach tipped the puck in from a fierce Nathan Lutz slap shot that evened things up again.
Although the tied score after regulation would lead the two squads to overtime, it would not tell the tale.
Seven rounds in the shootout were necessary to determine a winner. It was Ben Walker took the cake for the Oilers second straight win.
The Oilers and Americans will battle again tomorrow night in Allen, Texas before Tulsa heads to Utah to visit the Grizzlies.
With Tulsa Oilers release
Contact the photographer: Les.Stockton@prohockeynews.com
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