BOSSIER CITY, La. – The Tulsa Oilers remain perfect on the road in the post-season after posting a 5-4 overtime win over the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs in front of 2,036 fans Friday night at the CenturyTel Center. The win gives Tulsa a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five Berry Conference semifinal. 
Two Oilers posted three points in the game as Tulsa picked up a big road win in what promises to be a highly contested series. Bates Battaglia pitched in two goals and one assist while Chad Costello extended his playoff point streak to six games with three assists on the night. Costello remains atop the playoff scoring charts with 15 points (4 G, 11 A). Rookie defenseman Tom Dignard picked up the game-winner for Tulsa 1:52 into the overtime period just 40-seconds into a hooking penalty to Bossier-Shreveport’s Justin Aikins. Costello passed to Dignard who then sent a one timer from the right wing circle past Bossier-Shreveport goalie Ryan Munce for the win. Derek Eastman was awarded a secondary assist on Dignard’s game-winner. Simon Mangos put the Mudbugs on the board first, scoring his first goal of the playoffs at 10:31 of the first period. Shawn Limpright’s centering pass bounced off the skate of Tulsa’s Michel Beausoleil and to Mangos who beat Oilers goaltender Trevor Cann. The Mudbugs’ lead would not last long, however. Just 55-seconds later the Oilers tied the game at 1-1 on Battaglia‘s first goal of the night. After taking a pass from Jack Combs, Costello sent a rink-wide pass to Battaglia who then connected from the bottom of the right wing circle, sending the puck into the top left hand corner of the net. Tulsa took their first lead of the game at 15:19 of the first on Combs’ third goal of the playoffs. Combs picked up a rebound after Munce made the save on a shot by Dignard and knocked it into the open net for a 2-1 lead. Dignard and Costello were credited with the assists on the goal. The second period saw plenty more scoring, with Bossier-Shreveport out-shooting Tulsa 18-6. The Oilers expanded their lead to 3-1 at 6:41 of the period on a goal from defenseman Luke Lucyk. After Battaglia battled for possession of the puck in the corner, Lucyk tapped in a centering feed for his second goal of the playoffs. Gary Steffes and Battaglia picked up the assists. Jeff Kyrzakos pulled the Mudbugs back within one goal at 8:04 with a power play goal from Limpright and Mangos. With Tulsa’s Marty Standish serving two minutes for interference, Kyrzakos re-directed a shot from Limpright and past Cann. 6:06 later Bossier-Shreveport would tie the game on David Rutherford’s third playoff goal. On the rush Nick Layton sent a pass to Rutherford who bounced the puck off of Tulsa’s R.J. Linder and between the legs of Cann to make the score 3-3. Layton and Jim Jorgensen were given the assists on the tying goal. Tulsa moved back in front 4-3 at 17:59 on Battaglia’s second goal of the night, with assists going to Tyler Fleck and John Mori. Munce stopped a shot by Fleck before Battaglia managed to collect the rebound and put the puck into the net for the score. Bossier-Shreveport roared right back, scoring to tie it up 4-4 just 21-seconds later. Aikins took the feed from Rutherford and sent the puck home from the bottom of the right wing circle. Layton picked up the secondary assist on the play as the two squads would go into the second intermission deadlocked. A scoreless third period then pushed the game into overtime where Dignard sealed the deal for Tulsa. Game two is scheduled for a 7:05 p.m. start tonight in Bossier City. Contact the writer at john.hall@prohockeynews.com
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