Oilers Win First Game of Series in Overtime

Tom Dignard scored a power play goal early in the extra frame to put Tulsa up 1-0 in the series.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:20 pm

By: News On 6

Oilers Win First Game of Series in Overtime

Originally Published: Apr 16, 2011 12:35 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

TULSA, Okla. – The Tulsa Oilers outlasted the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs Friday to win game one of their playoff series 5-4 in overtime.

The teams played to a 4-4 split in regulation, but the Oilers registered the game-winning shot early in the extra period. Rookie defenseman Tom Dignard scored a power play goal less than two minutes into the frame and put Tulsa two wins away from advancing.

The two teams kept trading blows throughout regulation. Bossier-Shreveport’s Simon Mangos scored the game’s first goal in the first period, but Tulsa’s Bates Battaglia made that goal immaterial with one of his own 55 seconds later to tie the game.

The Oilers took their first lead late in the first period, when Jack Combs scored his third goal in the last two games. Tulsa extended the lead to 3-1 with a goal by Luke Lucyk midway through the second period.

The Mudbugs managed to eliminate the lead thanks to goals by Jeff Kyrzakos and David Rutherford. Battaglia scored his second goal of the game to retake the lead for Tulsa, but the Mudbugs responded just 21 seconds later with a goal by Justin Aikins to tie things again.

The score stood at 4-4 at the end of the second period, and it stayed that way through the third. Early in overtime, Aikins drew a hooking penalty to give Tulsa a power play. It only took 40 seconds for Dignard to blast home a one-timer for the winning goal.

The two teams will square off in Game 2 of the series at 7 p.m. Saturday at Bossier-Shreveport.