Ft Wayne Komets forward Alex Swetlikoff (90), Tulsa Oilers goalie Vyacheslav Buteyets (30)
TULSA, Okla. — The Route 66 Blue Whales (Tulsa Oilers) faced a heart-stopping challenge at the BOK Center on Friday night as they went head-to-head against the Fort Wayne Komets. In a close game, the Blue Whales ultimately fell 3-2 in overtime, leaving fans on the edge of their seats.
Tulsa Oilers defenseman Mike McKee (24)
The night began with excitement as Mike McKee lit the lamp for the Blue Whales, banging in a shot that ricocheted off the left-wing wall and slipped past Komets’ goaltender Connor Unger with just 1:22 left in the first period. The home crowd erupted as Tulsa took an early 1-0 lead.
Tulsa Oilers defenseman Olivier Dame-Malka (40)
Building on their momentum, the Blue Whales doubled their advantage when Olivier Dame-Malka found the back of the net 6:54 into the second period. With two goals in his last three games, Dame-Malka gave Tulsa a comfortable 2-0 lead, and the atmosphere in the arena buzzed with hope for a victory.
Ft Wayne Komets forward Jack Dugan (8)
However, the Komets displayed resilience and began their comeback late in the game. Odeen Tufto ignited the rally with a power-play goal at the 5:09 mark of the third period, firing a blistering one-timer into the top corner to narrow the deficit to 2-1. As the clock ticked down, the Komets kept pressing, and Jack Dugan leveled the score at 2-2 with just 2:41 remaining in regulation. Dugan capitalized on a rebound, leaving the crowd stunned and forcing the game into overtime.
Ft Wayne Komets forward Jack Gorniak (20), Tulsa Oilers defenseman Mike McKee (24)
In the extra frame, the tension heightened with each pass and rush. Ultimately, it was Alex Swetlikoff who ended the matchup, scoring the game-winning goal just 2:54 into overtime. Tufto assisted on the play, capping an impressive performance with a point on all three Komets goals.
Tulsa Oilers forward Sean Olson (29)
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