Sunday’s Tulsa Oilers regular-season finale had all the drama of a final-corner drag race to the checkered flag.
At stake: an ECHL playoff berth for the Oilers. A win or an overtime loss and the Oilers finish in the Mountain Division’s fourth and final playoff spot. A regulation loss and the season is over.
The Oilers won the race to the flag, defeating the Allen Americans 4-1 before 6,649 fans at the BOK Center. Tulsa will now play first-place Kansas City in the first round of the ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs that will start Wednesday and Thursday at Kansas City before returning to the BOK Center for Game 3 on Friday night.
Blake McLaughlin scored his second goal of the game at 6:40 of the third period for the final margin and the Oilers ended the season at 30-33-8-1.
The 11th-hour victory ended a seven-game winless streak for the Oilers.
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“When a team is slumping, which we were even though we put together a couple of good efforts with no results, I told the guys this is the 72nd game of the season and there is no better way to break your slump,” said Oilers coach Rob Murray of the Oilers’ 2-5-3 record over the last 10 games. “I think we played that way.
“I am usually a pretty cool customer, but my anxiety has been through the roof the last two weeks. I looked at my watch and I don’t think my heart rate went under 100 all day long.”
When Allen scored the first goal of the game that did not help Murray’s heart rate.
“We were down by a goal early while outshooting them 12-1,” Murray said. “That is the kind of straw that has been breaking our back. Tonight we got the job done.
“Could this have been taken care of three weeks ago? Potentially. But we made the playoffs.”
The victory did not hurt Allen, which had clinched third place in the division no matter the outcome as the results of its 6-3 win Saturday over Tulsa.
“Truth be told, Allen had nothing to play for,” said Murray. “They had a couple of their top guys out of the lineup. They were playing not to get hurt, but that said, we still had to win the game.”
Tulsa has not played well against Kansas City, which has only lost 12 games all year. But the playoffs are like a new season.
“They are a excellent hockey team, we are up against it,’ Murray said of the Mavericks. “But you don’t know how you are going to match up if you don’t make it. Now we have an opportunity.”
On just Allen’s second shot on goal, Blake Murray scored on a power play from the right faceoff circle at 8:12 of the first period to put the Americans up 1-0. But that was the only shot that got past Oilers goaltender Julian Junca, who finished with 26 saves.
McLaughlin evened the score for the Oilers at 13:37 with a power-play blast from the right circle to send the game into the second period tied at 1.
A pair of second-period goals put the Oilers up 3-1 and gave them a little breathing room. Kyle Crnkovic scored at 2:06, then Jamie Rome fired down the slot just 1:08 later to put the Oilers in command.
OILERS 4, AMERICANS 1
Allen 1 0 0 — 1
Tulsa 1 2 1 — 4
First Period: 1, Allen, Murray 21 (Finlay, Crone) 8:12 (pp). 2, Tulsa, McLaughlin 10 (Hiderman, Sheriff) 13:37 (pp). Penalties: Allen, Gould (slashing) 1:42. Tulsa, Butcher (high sticking) 16:56. Allen, MacArthur (hooking) 12:02.
Second Period: 3, Tulsa, Crnkovic 20 (Hilderman) 2:06. 4. Tulsa, Rome 3 (Matsushima, Wiebe) 3:14. Penalties: Tulsa, Costantini (tripping) 6:45. Allen, Robidoux (roughing) 9:11. Allen, Finlay (hooking) 14:15.
Third Period: 5, Tulsa, McLaughlin 11 (Sheriff, Lagrone) 6:40. Penalties: Allen, Crone (fighting major, game misconduct) 6:42. Tulsa, Cmkovic (fighting major, game misconduct) 6:42. Tulsa, Butcher (high sticking) 15:59. Allen, Murray (delay of game) 19:15. Tulsa, Wiebe (delay of game) 19:15.
Power Plays: Allen, 1-3. Tulsa, 1-4. Shots: Allen, 4-10-13—27. Tulsa, 16-16-7—39. Saves: Allen, Sinclair, 15-6-6—27, Costantini, 0-8-0—8. Tulsa, Junca, 3-10-13—26. Referees: John Linder, Yannick Jobin-Manseau. A: 6,649.