TULSA, Okla. — There’s something of a pattern developing.
For one reason or another, the Colorado Eagles can’t seem to close a game down without a little bit of drama. Or a lot of it.
Typically one of the strongest overtime performers in recent seasons after the ECHL adopted a 3-on-3 format for the extra period, the Eagles rarely went the distance.
In fact, Colorado spent the better part of a year without needing a shootout to determine contests because of how deadly it was in overtime. Now the Eagles can’t seem to avoid them.
For the second consecutive game the Eagles took down their opponent with a 2-1 shootout victory, this time against the Tulsa Oilers on Friday at the BOK Center for their third straight win.
It marked the fourth time in the past eight outings Colorado required the ultimate showdown between skater and goaltender to determine the result.
Similar to Colorado’s (35-13-4-2, 76 points) previous contest against Wichita, netminder Joe Cannata was exceptional in a 29-save performance, allowing just one shootout goal to the four Oilers he faced, having surrendered none in Wednesday’s win over the Thunder.
Cannata went more than 60 full minutes without allowing a goal after Tulsa seized its chance early in the game to go ahead 1-0 just 4:50 into the opening period after a turnover lead to a 2-on-1 rush for the Oilers (23-22-3-7, 56 points).
The margin would hold at a lone score much of the middle of the night until the Eagles capitalized on their first power-play opportunity of the contest midway through the second period.
Veteran forward Drayson Bowman fired home his 15th goal of the season off his own rebound on assists from newly acquired teammate Ryan Olsen and Ryan Harrison at 7:20 of the second for an equalizer.
Goaltending stole the show the rest of the way as neither club could break through despite several qualify chances at each end, something not even the vast open ice of 3-on-3 overtime could crack.
Michael Joly and Olsen would score in the shootout to bookend the four shooters for Colorado, Olsen snagging his fifth point (three goals) in five games since coming to the Eagles from division rival Utah in a trade.
Cannata picked up his 18th win of the campaign (seventh-most in the league despite missing time due to injury and call-ups to the AHL), further lowering his goals-against average and save percentage, which rank fourth and first in the ECHL.
Colorado has taken points in each of its last four games, pushing them back atop the Western Conference standings after suffering its toughest stretch of the year with losses in eight of nine contests, including six in a row.
The Eagles remain in Tulsa for one more Saturday (6:05 p.m.), the final of a seven-game road trip over the past two weeks. Colorado returns home to host the Oilers for three and another against Kansas City.
Cris Tiller: tillerc@reporter-herald.com or twitter.com/cristiller
Eagles 2, Oilers 1 (SO)
At BOK Center
Colorado 0 1 0 0 1 — 2
First Period — 1. Tulsa, Watson 1 (Hubbs), 4:50.
Second Period — 2. Colorado, D. Bowman 15 (Olsen, Harrison), 7:20 (PP).
Third Period — No scoring.
Overtime Period — No scoring.
Shootout Period — Colorado 2 (Joly G, Register NG, Bowman NG, Olsen G), Tulsa 1 (Richardson NG, Pleskach NG, Sampair G, Ranger NG).
Shots on goal — Colorado 34, Tulsa 30
Power Plays — Colorado 1/2, Tulsa 0/2
Goalies (shots-saves) — Colorado: Cannata (30-29); Tulsa: Williams (33-32)