CORALVILLE, IA – Dylan Sadowy scored a hat trick and finished with four points overall to lead the Tulsa Oilers to a 5-2 victory over the Iowa Heartlanders in the first contest between these teams in Heartlanders franchise history. Daniel Mannella stopped 22 shots for Tulsa and Adam Pleskach had a goal and an assist. Jack Billings and Bryce Misley each scored for Iowa.

The Oilers took control of this game early, scoring two goals in the first period. The first came just 53 seconds into the contest, when a great forecheck by Sadowy created a turnover inside the Iowa zone. Eddie Matsushima scooped up the loose puck, firing on Jack Berry, who made the save, but the rebound came right to Sadowy, who put it in for his first goal of the night.

With a little under two minutes left in the period, Pleskach extended the lead to two. Tulsa was doing a great job of maintaining the puck inside the Heartlanders end. Sadowy passed the puck behind the net to Pleskach who came out just inside the right face-off circle, putting a backhand shot on net that somehow snuck between the pad of Berry and goalpost to give the Oilers a 2-0 lead. For Pleskach, it was his second goal of the year.

Tulsa controlled much of the first period, outshooting Iowa, 14-9. That continued into the second with the Oilers put 14 shots on Berry to just eight for the Heartlanders. However, it would be Iowa who would score the first goal of the second frame, as Billings scored on the power-play 3:49 into the period, cutting the deficit to one. Carter Shinkaruk listed a wrist shot from the point that Billings redirected past Mannella and Iowa was right back into the contest.

However, the Oilers responded with two goals to extend their lead to three. The first came at 7:42, when Mike McKee intercepted the puck inside the Heartlanders end, firing a wrist shot that was knocked down by a defenseman. However, the rebound came right back to him. McKee blasted a one timer by Berry for his first goal of the season extending the lead to two.

With a little less than six minutes left in the frame, Sadowy added his second goal of the contest. With Tulsa on the power-play, Carson Denomie gained control of the puck near his own blueline, moving it up the boards to Sadowy who carried it into the Iowa zone. As Sadowy moved toward the half boards, he fired a wrist shot that beat Corbin Kaczperski to the far post to make it a 4-1 Oilers lead.

Iowa was down, but not out as Misley pulled the team back within two, scoring a shorthanded goal at 9:18 of the third period. Kris Bennett intercepted a pass attempt, then passed the puck to Misley, sending him the opposite direction on a breakaway. The Iowa forward moved toward his left, then tucked the puck through the legs of Mannella for his sixth goal of the year.

The Heartlanders pulled their goaltender early trying to get back into the contest, but it would be Sadowy sealing the victory with an empty net goal with 3:05 left in the game. For Sadowy, it was his team-leading 14th tally of the year. He also became the first Tulsa player to record a hat trick this season.

Sadowy finished with three goals and an assist. Mannella finished with 22 saves to move to 9-2-1. Berry stop 16 of 19 shots before his night was over. Kaczperski made 18 saves and relief.

Iowa now heads to the road to take on the Fort Wayne Komets on Friday evening. The puck drops at 7:00.

Gamesheet

By Robert Pannier