TULSA FIGHTS BACK BUT FALLS SHORT IN TOLEDO
A four-goal second period, including three power play tallies propels Walleye to victory in first ever meeting with Oilers.
TOLEDO, OH – The Toledo Walleye, sparked by a four-goal second period, held off a strong comeback effort from the Tulsa Oilers Saturday in a 4-3 tilt at the Huntington Center in the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
In an action packed first period, Shawn Bates broke a scoreless tie late in the frame when he blocked a shot which led to a long breakaway on Toledo goaltender Cal Heeter. Bates buried the wrist shot over Heeter’s blocker to give Tulsa a 1-0 lead after one. The Walleye held a 16-13 shots advantage in the period, but Oilers goalie P.J. Musico stopped all 16.
Toledo’s first three second period goals came on power plays in the first 4:14 of the stanza. First, Shane Berschbach tied the game at 1-1 just 1:17 into the period on a 5-on-3 man-advantage. Tyson Spink buried a one-timer 26 seconds later to give the Walleye a 2-1 lead. Then Dane Walters added the third power play goal to complete the early onslaught.
Alexandre Ranger cut Tulsa’s deficit to one with his first goal as an Oiler at 9:03 of the period, but the Walleye added an insurance goal late in the frame, when J.P. LaFontaine tapped in a wraparound pass from Simon Denis to make it 4-2 at the second break.
Late in the third period, Dylan Hubbs scored his third goal of the season to bring Tulsa back to within one, but Toledo held of a valiant comeback effort by the Oilers to preserve the 4-3 win.
UP NEXT: The Oilers finish off the weekend Sunday in a rematch against the Walleye at the Huntington Center. Game time is scheduled for 4:15pm CST. Catch all the action at www.tulsaoilers.com, “Listen Live”, or on ECHL.TV, with coverage starting at 4pm.
