Cutthroats land Oilers 4-1

TULSA, OK—Denver Cutthroats goalie Kieran Millan was almost perfect when he handed the Tulsa Oilers a 4-1 defeat in the first game of the 2013-14 season on Friday night.  Millan stopped 36-of-37 shots on the night, giving up only one goal late in the game to Tulsa’s Todd Robinson at the 11:07 mark of the 3rd period.

On the other end of the rink Tulsa goalie Shane Madalora faced 45 shots and turned aside 41 of them.  Troy Schwab opened the scoring at 17:52 of the first period, deftly avoiding a sliding Jake Overmeyer’s attempt to block the shot and slipping the puck past Madalora. The Oilers threatened twice in the first period, with Thomas Beauregard racing in on a breakaway during the Oilers first power play of the game, and during that break referee Zac Blazic determined that Beauregard had been interfered with on the way in on Millan and Beauregard was awarded a penalty shot.  Millan saved both of Beauregard’s attempts

Garrett Bembridge tipped in a feed from Schwab at 13:41 of the second period to give the home side a 2-0 advantage at the second break.  Denver rained 20 shots on Shane Madalora in the second period.  With the Oilers on a power play five minutes into the final frame, Cutthroats forward Matt Glasser pounced on a loose puck at his own blue line and buried his shorthanded breakaway chance to provide the home side with a 3-0 advantage.

Robinson then put in the lone Tulsa marker before the Oilers power play expired with assists from Thomas Beauregard and Ryan Menei.

Oilers head coach Bruce Ramsay suffered his first opening night loss as the Oilers head man since assuming the helm in 2009.

Tulsa and Denver will face each other again at 6pm on Saturday night, then the Oilers will return home to face the 2013 defending CHL Champion Allen Americans in the home opener next Saturday.