Americans Box Score

Tulsa, Oklahoma – The Allen Americans, ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators, played their lone preseason game on Saturday night against the Tulsa Oilers in Oklahoma, where the Oilers held on for a 5-3 win, despite an Americans comeback attempt late in the third period.

The Oilers scored twice, less than a minute apart in the opening period. Tulsa’s first goal came at the 7:06 mark of the opening frame as Tulsa’s Johnny Hooker scored his second goal in as many games for the Oilers. It was a power-play goal. Then 40 seconds later Zach Murray scored on a deflection in front of the Allen net beating Allen goalie Jesper Vikman. Connor Olson with the primary assist for Tulsa. The Oilers would go up 2-0 at that point. The Americans responded with six and a half minutes left in the period as Lukas Sillinger found the back of the net to cut the lead to 2-1. It was his first of the preseason, assisted by Zackary Shantz and Mike Krupinski. Both teams had an opening-period power-play opportunity. The Oilers were 1-for-1. The Americans 0-for-1. The Oilers outshot the Americans 15-10 in the opening frame.

The Oilers thought they scored early in the second period on a shot from the point; however, that goal was wiped out for goaltender interference. The score remained that way until the 13:50 mark of the middle frame when Jay Dickman and Nick Nardella broke in on a two-on-one rush and Nardella’s shot beat Jesper Vikman. This one counted as the Oilers regained their two-goal lead 3-1. The Americans outshot the Oilers 15-8 in the middle frame but trailed by two goals after two periods of play.

The Americans made a goaltending change to start the third period; rookie netminder Kyle Jones took over between the pipes and looked sharp in his Allen debut making several big saves early on. The Americans rewarded their young goaltender by cutting the Tulsa lead to 3-2 on a goal by Spencer Asuchak (1) from Sam Lipkin and Miko Matikka. A minute and twenty seconds later the Oilers struck again as Jay Dickman got his first as a member of the Tulsa Oilers from Nick Nardella who earned his second point of the game to make it a 4-2 Tulsa lead. The Americans weren’t done either; two minutes later Miko Matikka picked up his second point of the night and first goal of the preseason to make it a one-goal game 4-3. The Americans pulled goalie Kyle Jones late trying to tie the game, but the Oilers added an empty-net goal late to secure the 5-3 win. The Americans wrap up the preseason 0-1

They will open the regular season a week from tonight in Tulsa at 7:05 pm. Home opening weekend is on October 29^th and 30^th in Frisco, as they host the Idaho Steelheads at Comerica Center. Visit the Americans website for seats!  

Three Stars of the Night.

1. Z Murray, Tulsa

2. N Nardella, Tulsa

3. M Matikka, Allen