Playoff Game 3: Oilers-Allen Preview

Despite a natural hat-trick from Drew Fisher in the first period, 51 saves from Kevin Carr, and a 4-0 lead, the Oilers ended up on the wrong side of a 5-4 overtime decision in Game 2 on Wednesday night. The Americans picked up the game-tying goal from Konrad Abeltshauser at 14:29 of the third and won the game at 9:41 of the extra session when Greger Hanson finished off a 3-on-1 rush into the Tulsa zone. The Americans outshot the Oilers 29-7 over the third period and overtime and ended the game with a decisive 56-30 in total shots on net. Abeltshauser and Hanson each registered three points to lead the Americans' dramatic comeback and help their squad to a 2-0 series lead.

THE PERFECT PERIOD

Drew Fisher, the Oilers' leading scorer during the regular season, was the brightest star on Wednesday night as he recorded Tulsa's first playoff hat-trick since Mario Nobili on March 21, 1993 against the Dallas Freeze. Fisher started one of the most memorable games of his career at 12:01 of the first period with a 5-on-3 power play wrist shot that gave the Oilers a 1-0 lead. On the ensuing 5-on-4 power play, the International Falls, Minnesota native followed a loose puck across the Allen crease and connected from a sharp angle for his second strike of the night. With the final seconds of the first period ticking away, Fisher completed his hat-trick on a breakaway with quick snap shot over the blocker shoulder of Americans' goalie Joel Rumpel.

HEAVY WORKLOAD

After facing 41 shots in Game 1, Kevin Carr turned aside 51 shots in Game 2, his highest save total of the season. The rookie has recorded double-digit saves in every regulation period of the series against the Americans

DISAPPEARING ACT

On Wednesday night at the Allen Event Center, the Oilers' four-goal lead faded over the final 25 minutes of regulation. The Americans clawed their way to the largest comeback by any Oilers' opponent this season.

FADING AFTER THE FIRST

In the first two games of the series, the Oilers have outscored the Americans 4-1 in the first period. However, over the second and third periods combined, the Americans have totaled nine goals to just two for the Oilers.

POWER PLAY POISE

The Oilers have scored three of their six goals in the series on the power play with a 1-for-4 outing in Game 1 and a 2-for-5 showing in Game 2. The Americans have also capitalized three times on the power play in 13 opportunities.

OT UNKIND

With Wednesday's loss, the Oilers have now come up short in four consecutive playoff overtime games. Tulsa fell twice in OT to the Denver Cutthroats in the 2014 Central Hockey League postseason and dropped a 3-2 overtime decision to the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs in 2011.

NEW HOPE AT HOME

If the Oilers can win one of the next two games from the Americans, they will ensure themselves a return to trip to Allen on Tuesday for Game 5. The Oilers are 3-5 all-time in playoff games at the BOK Center.

OIL DROPS

Defenseman Kevin Noble was suspended for Game 2 but is back in the lineup tonight for Game 3…Jon Booras is the only Oilers' player to record a point in each of the first two games of the series…Bruce Ramsay has led his team to the postseason for the third time in his six-year tenure as Tulsa Head Coach…Spencer Asuchak leads the Americans with six points (3 goals, 3 assists) in the first two playoff games. 

TEAM CAPSULES

Tulsa Oilers

Overall: 0-1-1

Home: 0-0-0

Road: 0-1-1

Goals For: 6

Goals Against: 11

Allen Americans

Overall: 2-0-0

Home: 2-0-0

Road: 0-0-0

Goals For: 11

Goals Against: 6

TEAM LEADERS

Tulsa Oilers

Goals: Drew Fisher - 3

Assists: Scott Macaulay, Stephen Perfetto - 2

Points: Drew Fisher - 3

PIM: Kevin Noble - 12

+/-: 3 players tied at +1

Allen Americans

Goals: Spencer Asuchak - 3

Assists: Spencer Asuchak, Chad Costello - 3

Points: Spencer Asuchak - 6

PIM: Patrik Valcak - 6

+/-: Aaron Gens +3