OILERS OVERCOME BEES 3-2 IN SHOOTOUT
By: Rachel Reida
 
Hidalgo, Texas—Jeff Christian nabbed the game-winner in the shootout for the Tulsa Oilers as they defeated the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees 3-2 Friday night at the Dodge Arena. Rio came back from a 2-0 deficit in the third period with Bernie Chmiel , in his debut at home in a Bees jersey posting both Rio goals at the 4:37 and 13:06 marks to cause the overtime and eventual shootout.
 
The game was scoreless until the second period, when Tulsa’s Paul Kelly netted one on a pass from David Beauregard just 1:17 into the second frame to give the Oilers the lead 1-0 going into the final period.
 
Brendon Hodge increased the lead by two just 43 second into the third, but Chmiel, with the two goals for the Bees tonight tied things up with just 6:54 left on the clock causing a sudden death overtime in which neither team would score.
 
In the battle of the goaltenders, former Bee Jeff Van Nynatten came away with the win in his return to the Rio Grande stopping two of the five Rio shots, while David Lemanowicz suffered the shootout loss stopping one Oiler shot, with Christian coming away with the game-winner.
 
Van Nynatten ended the night with 28 saves, while Lemanowicz had yet another stellar defensive performance with 52 saves.
 
The Bees take on former Rio head coach Tracy Egeland and the Rocky Mountain Rage Saturday night at the Dodge Arena. Game time is set for 7:35 p.m. First 1,000 fans receive fleece blankets with doors opening at 6:30 p.m.