Good morning and welcome to the awaited update to recap the local team’s journey during playoff season. With major belief in my team, I’m also aware the chances of us making it a long way were slim. I just wanted us to make it past the first round.

The playoffs were kicked off with a big win for the Tulsa Oilers against the Kansas City Mavericks. April 18th the Oilers had a comeback win in KC, 4-2. They entered the 3rd period down by 2 goals, and by some surge of energy, the Oilers scored four unanswered goals. Would have loved to see that game in person! Drew Elliott, who’s new to our team just before playoffs started, scored twice in that frame. It was sick.

Night two in KC the next night did not go the same way, though it was close. The game was neck and neck with matching scores in the first and third periods. 2-2 at the end of regulation forced an overtime period where KC sealed the night’s final.

Game 3 on April 22nd was back on home ice. Surely this means we had the advantage, right? Wrong. KC came to our barn swinging. We were not on our A-game, allowing 5 goals over the first two periods. For the third period, Tulsa switched the goalie out (and the team probably got a stern talking to during intermission). The Oilers didn’t allow any more goals at least. While we did get one goal in that third period, it was not enough and we fell to KC in a 5-1 final.

April 24th was much the same. The Oilers were not playing like they wanted it. Less goals, but still an L to end the night. The Oilers were completely shut out by Jack LaFontaine on the KC end. The final score was a heartbreaker – 2-0.

This meant that KC was leading the series, 3-1 going into April 25th’s Friday game and the night was a must-win for the home team. Facing playoff elimination and continuing to have faith in my team, I knew they could pull this off.

Tulsa Oilers did not disappoint. The first period was 0-0 with no goals scored, but amazing shots and saves were had for sure. Tyler Poulsen opened up the scoring in the second period to bring us a one goal lead heading into the third period. Our second period was also riddled with the first real bout of tension in the series, with several penalties on both sides stemming from all the pushing and shoving you expect in a hockey game. In an impeccable turn of events, we scored two more goals to extend the lead in the final period! There was even more aggravation brewing on the ice at this point with KC instigating and Tulsa defending their teammates. KC scored a powerplay goal to finally notch one – much to the fans’ displeasure since we all wanted a shut out on THEM. Tulsa ended the night with an empty net goal to make the final 4-1.

It was a beautiful win to force Game 6 in KC on Monday, April 26th.

A win that was soon overshadowed by our demise.

The following Monday night (who plays hockey on a Monday???), we faced off against KC in game 6 where we were… lack of a better word, WHOOPED.

It was all fine in the first even though we were down by 2. A team can come back from that. In the second period, it was 3-0 and the positive thoughts fled. It’s still doable, but when you’re in a must win game, down going into the final period of regulation, it’s not looking good.

Our season and playoff running ended in a 4-0 dumpster fire of a game.

I don’t have much to say on that front considering I’m pretty sad we couldn’t manage to go further.

I want to root for Tahoe Knight Monsters out of spite, but I think KC may beat them. Haha, we’ll see. Mountain Division teams struggle when it comes to teams like Toledo or other teams on the East Coast.

Onto this week, we had our season ending party. Felt like it took forever to get here for some reason. It’s only been like a week and a half since the team’s season officially came to an end. GET A GRIP, SUMMER.

Had a great time, but didn’t win anything in the giveaways like we have other years. Usually at least one of us gets something! No biggie, though.

I told myself this year I’d step out of my comfort zone and take some pictures with some of the players but then I did and regretted it, so. 🙂

Instead of posting some of those pictures, here’s a picture of “real” mayonnaise.

I’ll be watching the NHL playoffs and keeping up with the ECHL playoffs. Far too soon the playoffs will wrap up and my countdown til October will be relaunched. You may get another hockey related post at the end of Stanley Cup playoffs just because… crazy stuff has already happened, but it would make this post really long and unnecessary, LOL.

Until next season…