Tulsa Oilers fall 2-0 to Kansas City, face a must-win Game 5

The Tulsa Oilers fell 2-0 to the Kansas City Mavericks on Thursday night. The loss marks Kansas City’s third consecutive win and gives them a 3-1 series lead.

Marcus Crawford opened the scoring for the Mavericks with a wrist shot through heavy traffic, beating Talyn Boyko at 8:54 of the first period. It was the fourth straight game in which Kansas City struck first, and Crawford’s tally stood as the lone goal of a tightly contested opening frame, with each team putting up seven shots.

The second period was a defensive battle, with neither side able to find the back of the net. Tulsa edged Kansas City in shots, 12-11, and killed off the game’s only power play thanks to a gritty effort that included three blocked shots and a pair of full-ice clears by Mike McKee.

Justin Macpherson extended the Mavericks’ lead midway through the third, rifling a wrister at 8:36 to seal the 2-0 final—nearly mirroring Crawford’s goal in both style and timing.

The Oilers now face elimination in Game 5, set for tomorrow, April 25, at 7:05 p.m. inside the BOK Center.