Third Period Dooms Oilers in Loss Against Grizzlies

TULSA, Okla. — The Tulsa Oilers, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks and the AHL’s San Diego Gulls, and powered by Community Care, lost 7-4 to the Utah Grizzlies on Sunday at the BOK Center.

Tulsa Oilers goalie Vyacheslav Buteyets (30)

The first period saw no scoring, despite both teams placing double-digit shot totals on the board, with the Grizzlies leading 14-13 in the department.

Utah Grizzlies forward Maxim Barbashyov (92)

Tulsa killed off an early five-on-three, but Reilly Connors cut unassisted through all three zones before splitting the defense and beating Vyacheslav Buteyets down low, putting the Grizzlies up 1-0 on their 16^th shot of the game. Tyler Poulsen answered less than a minute later, tying the game 1-1 3:11 into the second period, finishing in tight from a below-the- goal feed from Justin Michaelian. Konnor Smith gave the Oilers a 2-1 lead with his fourth of the season, driving a shot through Dylan Wells 2:17 later at the 5:18 mark. Coulson Pitre extended Tulsa’s lead to 3-1 with a power-play strike, scoring 10 seconds into the man advantage by depositing a rebound over a sprawling Wells to close the four-goal period’s scoring at the 16:35 mark.

Tulsa Oilers defenseman Konnor Smith (4)

Tulsa Oilers defenseman Mike McKee (24)

Danny Dzhanyiev scored a power-play goal 2:01 into the period. Reed Lebster scored at even strength less than a minute later, tying the game 2:58 into the frame. Exactly one minute later, Dzhanyiev gave the Grizzlies A 4-3 lead with the third goal of the frame. Dylan Fitze tied the game 4-4 with a power-play goal 6:40 into the final frame against his former team. Evan Friesen added a pair of goals at the 10:41 mark and 16:09 mark to put the Grizzlies up 6-4. Dzhanyiev scored a hat trick on an empty-net goal, sending the Oilers into the Holiday Break with a 7-4 loss.

Tulsa returns on Boxing Day, Dec. 26, at 7:05 p.m., hosting the Kansas City Mavericks at the BOK Center.

With Tulsa Oilers release

Contact the photographer: Les.Stockton@prohockeynews.com