TULSA, OK – The Tulsa Oilers (4-0-2) moved into first place in the Mountain Division Thursday after earning a point in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Rapid City Rush (3-3-2) at the BOK Center.
Tulsa and Rapid City were both unsuccessful on two first period power plays, as the Oilers held a narrow 9-8 shots advantage in the scoreless frame.
The Rush jumped in front at 14:09 of the middle period, when Shaquille Merasty snuck in behind the Oilers defense and snapped a shot under the crossbar over the shoulder of Tulsa goaltender Devin Williams. Tulsa had an answer with just 1:40 left in the stanza when Austin Poganski stuffed a rebound past Rush goalie Adam Carlson to even the score 1-1.
Mason McCarty put the Rush back in the lead 43 seconds into the third period with a shot that snuck between Williams’ legs, but the Oilers answered late when Adam Pleskach buried a shot into the back of the net with 4:05 left in regulation.
With both teams earning a point, Pierre-Luc Mercier ended the game in Rapid City’s favor when he scored the overtime winner 1:28 into the extra frame. Williams stopped 33 in the overtime loss, while Carlson stopped 38 in the win.
The Oilers and Rush meet again Friday and Saturday at 7:05pm both nights at the BOK Center. The Oilers then head on the road for the first time and travel to Boise, ID for three games next week against the Idaho Steelheads.
