OKLAHOMA CITY–Drew Sutton notched his second career hat trick, Daniel Duris made 37 saves, and the Oklahoma Warriors took down the El Paso Rhinos 4-1 at Blazers Ice Centre on Saturday.
The scoring began and ended with Sutton, whose only other hat trick with the Warriors came on December 9, 2022 at New Mexico. His four-point effort is the second such performance of his career. The center from Hortonville, Wis. led Oklahoma in goals last season and is tied for the lead in that category this year.
After falling 2-1 in overtime a day ago, the Warriors had already scored three times before the first intermission. The 3-0 first period, Oklahoma’s best first period of the season, began with Sutton scoring a five-hole goal on a breakaway. William Ahlrik then batted in a puck from just under the crossbar into the net for a 2-0 lead. In the last two minutes of the period, Therien Thiesing and Riley Brueck combined to set up Sutton for a one-timer and a third Warriors goal.
El Paso, who entered the weekend as the south division’s top team by points percentage, fought back with a second period goal, but would not solve Duris again. With 37 seconds remaining, Owen Carlile unselfishly set up Sutton for the empty netter to clinch the hat trick and end the game.
Duris, who has won four of his last six starts, has allowed only nine goals during that span and owns a save percentage of .954. His overall GAA of 1.88 is 9th in the NAHL among goalies who have played at least five games. His .942 save percentage ranks second.
With the regulation victory, the Warriors earn three out of four possible points in the series and begin the upcoming week in second place in the south division. Oklahoma travels to Amarillo for a Friday-Saturday series against the Wranglers.
The Oklahoma Warriors are home next against the Amarillo Wranglers for a three-game series on Friday, October 27, Saturday, October 28, and Sunday, October 29. Puck drops at 7:15 p.m. all three nights at Blazers Ice Centre in Oklahoma City. Fans can purchase tickets at www.oklahomawarriors.com/tickets and watch the team live on www.nahltv.com.