The Tulsa Oilers dropped the first game of the 2003-2004 Turnpike Series to the
Oklahoma City Blazers Tuesday night, losing 4-2 in front of 6,778 fans at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City.Tulsa opened the scoring just 23 seconds into the first period when forward Aaron
Millar put a shot past Blazer netminder Boyd Ballard, assisted by center Dan Gravelle and defenseman Branislav Kvetan.
With Gravelle in the box for holding the stick midway through the second
period, Oklahoma City veteran forward Bryan Forslund knotted the score at 1, with assists going to Blair Manning and Doug Sheppard at 10:30.
Oklahoma City would pull ahead 2-1 just a few minutes
later when defenseman Peter Robertson put the puck past Oiler rookie goaltender Tim Kelleher at 17:01 of the second.
Tulsa tied it at 2 at 1:07 of the third period on a power play goal by left
winger Jason Bermingham, assisted by Anthony D'Arpino and Todd Marcellus.
The Blazers pulled ahead for good when veteran d-man Hardy Sauter found the back of the net during an OKC power play,
set up by Manning at 9:24 of the third.
Oklahoma City sealed the win on an empty net goal by Marty Standish with 1 second remaining in regulation.
The Oilers return to action this Friday night
when they take on the defending champion Memphis RiverKings at the Tulsa Convention Center. The puck drops at 7:35 p.m.
