MALLARDS EDGE OILERS IN THE QUAD CITIES

MALLARDS EDGE OILERS IN THE QUAD CITIES

Tulsa falls to 0-2 early in the season with 5-4 loss to the Mallards in a back-and-forth game at Taxslayer Center.

MOLINE, IL – The Quad City Mallards edged the Tulsa Oilers 5-4 Saturday night in a game that featured five lead changes at Taxslayer Center.

The Oilers claimed their first lead of the season 3:19 into the game when Conner Bleackley snuck behind the Mallards’ defense and scored a short-handed goal. Quad City tied the score, when Vegas Golden Knights prospect Keegan Kolesar tipped a shot from the point past Tulsa goaltender Jake Hildebrand. The Mallards had a near-goal waved off later in the frame due to goaltender interference, as the score remained 1-1 after one.

Rookie forward Dylan Hubbs gave the Oilers their second lead early in the second period, but Sam Warning scored a short-handed goal for Quad City to even the score 2-2. The Mallards picked up their first lead when Kolesar stole a puck from Hildebrand behind the Oilers net and found Justin Kovacs in front, who buried the shot to make it 3-2. Late in the frame, Oilers captain Adam Pleskach

Tulsa regained the lead for a third time early in the final stanza, as Alexandre Ranger tipped a centering pass past Mallards goaltender Ivan Kulbakov, but Matt Pohlkamp and Josh MacDonald scored back-to-back goals 23 seconds apart to put Quad City in front for good.

The Oilers return to the Quad Cities Wednesday for a 7:05pm game at Taxslayer Center against the Mallards. Catch the action on the Sports Animal Radio Network in Tulsa (99.9FM/1550AM) or www.tulsaoilers.com by clicking on the “Listen Live” button. Fans can watch every ECHL game all season long by subscribing to ECHL.TV.

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