GRIZZLIES SQUEAK BY OILERS IN OVERTIME

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 30, 2016

GRIZZLIES SQUEAK BY OILERS IN OVERTIME

Stevens stops 31 shots to help Tulsa earn a point, but Oilers fall 3-2 in OT to Utah in the first of three games this weekend at BOK Center.

Box Score

TULSA, OK – An overtime goal by Tim Daly pushed the Utah Grizzlies past the Tulsa Oilers 3-2 Friday in the first of three games this weekend at the BOK Center.

Photo / TeeJay Crawford

The Grizzlies struck first 2:56 into the game, when Ralph Cuddemi snapped a quick shot over the glove of Oilers goaltender Colin Stevens. Tulsa answered less than two minutes later, when Emerson Clark buried a rebound out of a goal-mouth scramble to tie the game at 1-1. Shortly after Clark’s goal, Garrett Ladd deflected a shot from the point past Utah goalie Troy Redmann to give Tulsa its first lead. But the Grizzlies scored on their only power play, when Jon Puskar batted in his own rebound to even the score at 2-2.

Utah outshot the Oilers 13-6 in the second period, but Stevens made several key saves to keep the game tied after two. Tulsa was unsuccessful on two second period power plays, while the Grizzlies failed to convert on their only man-advantage of the frame.

Both teams recorded six shots in the third period, but both goaltenders stopped everything they faced, forcing the game into overtime. Daly ended the game 2:25 into the extra frame when he skated behind the Oilers’ defense and lifted a backhander into the top of the net. Daly factored into all three Grizzlies’ goals, earning him the game’s first star. Stevens stopped 31 of 34 shots in the loss.

The Oilers finish 2016 with a New Years Eve game against the Wichita Thunder at 7:05pm Saturday at the BOK Center. Tulsa then faces Wichita again at 4:05pm on Sunday (New Years Day), before embarking on a season-long eight-game road trip.

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