VanWormer’s late goal gives Mavericks road win, series lead over Oilers

TULSA, Okla. – Jared VanWormer’s power play goal with 3:57 left in the third period propelled the visiting Kansas City Mavericks past the Tulsa Oilers in front of an announced crowd of 2,858 on Thursday night at the BOK Center to give the Mavericks a 6-4 win and a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven ECHL Mountain Division Semifinal Series.

Kansas City fell behind early, before roaring back with three second period goals to put Tulsa behind entering the final frame. The Mavericks were two-for-three on the man advantage on the night, while the Oilers converted on one-of-three attempts.

Roman Ammirato struck first for Tulsa when he re-directed an Eric Drapluk shot into the net past Kansas City goalie Mason McDonald 3:25 into the game to make it a 1-0 Oilers lead. Stephen Perfetto padded Tulsa’s lead 4:04 later, taking a pass from Chris Forney and splitting a pair of defenders before firing a shot from the slot that found the net to make it 2-0. Steven Kaunisto received the secondary assist on the tally.

Greg Betzold found the net for Kansas City at 16:25 of the first, scoring a power play goal from Mark Cooper and Willie Raskob to cut Tulsa’s lead in half. The two teams went into the first intermission with Tulsa ahead, 2-1.

The ice titled in the Mavericks’ favor in the middle period, despite both sides firing 15 shots on goal.

Loren Ulett tied the game, 2-2, at the 6:41 mark on assists from Riley Sweeney and Rocco Carzo. 5:13 later, Corey Durocher beat Tulsa netminder Devin Williams to give Kansas City its first lead, 3-2. Jordan Klimek and Cliff Watson were credited with the helpers on the score. C.J. Eick added to the Mavericks lead late in the period, scoring off of a Joey Sides assist with 19-seconds remaining to make it 4-2 at the second intermission, but that lead would not hold.

Alex Dostie struck just 34-seconds into the third period, on assists from Ryan Tesink and Perfetto to pull the Oilers back within one goal. Dostie found the net again 4:43 later, scoring on a power play from Adam Pleskach and Kaunisto to make it 4-4.

VanWormer then netted the game-winner just under 11-minutes later, with assists awarded to Raskob and Betzold. Carzo added an empty-net insurance goal 3:05 later, to secure the 6-4 win for the Mavericks.

The two squads will now regroup and return to the BOK Center ice on Sunday afternoon for game two of the series. Opening face-off is scheduled for 4:05pm. The series then shifts to Independence, Missouri for game three on Wednesday, April 17.

Contact the writer: John.Hall@prohockeynews.com

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