AMARILLO, Texas – The Oklahoma Warriors battled back from 2-0 and 3-1 deficits to pick up one point in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Amarillo Wranglers at the Budweiser Bull Pen Friday.
Scoring wouldn’t start until near the halfway point of the game, but the Wranglers broke the ice with two quick goals to go up 2-0. Amarillo would bust in on a 2-on-1 rush and score off a rebound at 9:36 of the middle period, then roof a loose puck in tight to double its lead at 11:27. The Warriors showed a flash of life in the final few minutes as Rylan Brady would tip in a Drew Sutton point shot to make a 2-1 game with 1:37 to go in the second.
Amarillo would once again get the first goal of the period, going up 3-0 exactly three minutes into the third. Oklahoma began its second comeback of the game just over two and a half minutes later when the captain, William Lawson-Body, pulled his squad to within one. Will Brenner passed from the wall to Lawson-Body in front of the net, and Lawson-Body made a backhand-forehand move to get the Wranglers netminder out of position for the forward’s fifth goal of the season at 5:36. Exactly eight minutes later, Max Dronen won an offensive zone draw to Malte Hasselgren, who slipped past his opposition winger and found the back of the net to tie the game 3-3 at 13:06. Oklahoma would have one more surprise for Amarillo, as a blocked point shot bounced right back to Therien Thiesing, whose second attempt found its way into the net, giving the Warriors a 4-3 lead with 4:13 remaining. The home team had the final goal of regulation though, and the Wranglers scored with an extra attacker out at 19:32 to force overtime.
The Wranglers would hold on through overtime by killing part of a Warriors 5-on-3 powerplay and win 2-1 in the shootout.
The Warriors are back in action for two home games against the New Mexico Ice Wolves, November 11 and 12 at 7:15 p.m. Each game is part of the Warriors Pooch Party. Local organizations, including the Oklahoma City Humane Society and Low Rider Dachshund Rescue will be in attendance with dogs for adoption. Warriors fans are encouraged to bring their dogs to each game, and can enter their dogs in a race during Saturday’s intermission by emailing Tiffany Hollebeck at thollebeck.okwarriors.com.