The Tulsa Oilers have played two regular-season games in their 75th season, and the early Tulsa Oilers results already tell two very different stories. On Oct. 17 the Oilers beat the Allen Americans 5-4 at the BOK Center. Six days later, on Oct. 23, they lost 5-1 in Wichita. This report looks at what each game showed, which trends are worth watching and what comes next on a busy home stretch.
Quick answer: Tulsa is 1-1-0-0 after two games. The Oilers won their opener 5-4 against Allen behind two goals from rookie Max Itagaki, then fell 5-1 at Wichita, where defenseman Jake Lee scored Tulsa’s only goal on the power play. The next three games are at home: Allen on Oct. 27 and Wichita on Oct. 29 and Oct. 30, according to the official Oilers schedule.
Tulsa Oilers Results So Far in 2026-27
| Date | Opponent | Result | Tulsa scorers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., Oct. 17 | vs. Allen Americans (BOK Center) | W 5-4 | Max Itagaki (2), Ethan Benz, Kyle Kukkonen (SH), Zachary Murray (GWG) |
| Fri., Oct. 23 | at Wichita Thunder | L 5-1 | Jake Lee (PP) |
Sources: the club’s recaps of the season opener and the first road game. Neither recap listed full shot totals or attendance, so we have not included them.
Game 1: A Back-and-Forth Win Over Allen
Opening night was a showcase for the new faces. Itagaki scored 2:10 into his professional debut, and Kukkonen added a short-handed goal in his own first pro game. However, Allen kept answering, and the game was tied four times before Zachary Murray scored the winner early in the third period. Our full opening night recap breaks down each storyline.
The positive takeaway was clear: depth players produced, and Tulsa found a way to close out a one-goal game. On the other hand, the Oilers gave up quick answers after several of their goals, which is the kind of habit that costs points against better teams.
Game 2: A Tough Night in Wichita
The first road game went the other way. Wichita scored twice in the first period, including a power-play goal late in the frame, and added two more in the second. Tulsa’s lone goal came from defenseman Jake Lee on the power play with 22 seconds left in the second period. Then Wichita added a breakaway goal 41 seconds into the third period to make it 5-1, according to the Oilers’ recap. Tomas Suchanek was in goal for Tulsa.
Lee’s goal is worth noting. He was loaned to Tulsa by the San Diego Gulls before the season, which shows how the club’s affiliation with the Anaheim Ducks and San Diego Gulls feeds the lineup. Our explainer on how the ECHL works covers those loans and call-ups in detail.
Losses in Wichita are rarely easy. The Thunder are Tulsa’s oldest rival, and the teams meet 14 times this season. For background on why these games carry extra weight, read our history of the Oilers-Thunder rivalry.
Three Early Trends to Watch
Two games are a very small sample, so treat these as questions rather than conclusions.
1. Can the rookies keep producing?
Itagaki and Kukkonen scored in their debuts, but neither scored in Wichita. Rookie production often comes in waves. Therefore, the next five or six games will say more about their roles than opening night did. Our profile of Max Itagaki explains why his playmaking is the bigger long-term asset.
2. Special teams are trading blows
Tulsa has scored a short-handed goal and a power-play goal, but it also allowed a power-play goal in Wichita. Special-teams numbers swing wildly early in a season, so the league statistics on ECHL.com will be more meaningful after 10 or more games.
3. Starts and finishes of periods
Allen tied the opener with 33 seconds left in the second period, and Wichita scored 41 seconds into the third. Goals at those moments tend to swing momentum, so tightening up in the first and last minutes of periods is an obvious focus for head coach Rob Murray’s staff.
What Comes Next: A Three-Game Home Stand
The Oilers return to the BOK Center for three games in four days:
- Tuesday, Oct. 27, 10:35 a.m.: vs. Allen, the annual Kid’s Day game, with a pencil pouch giveaway
- Thursday, Oct. 29, 7:05 p.m.: vs. Wichita, Thirsty Thursday with a koozie giveaway
- Friday, Oct. 30, 7:05 p.m.: vs. Wichita, Día de los Muertos night with a youth jersey giveaway
After that, Tulsa visits Wichita for a Halloween matinee on Oct. 31. In other words, the Oilers play the Thunder three times in eight days, which gives them a quick chance to respond to Friday’s loss. For every promotion on the calendar, see our guide to Tulsa Oilers promotions and giveaways.
The Bottom Line
A 1-1 start is neither a crisis nor a statement. The opener showed real scoring depth, while the Wichita loss showed how quickly a game can slip away on the road. With three straight home games coming up, the Oilers have an early chance to build momentum in front of their own fans. We will keep tracking Tulsa Oilers results as the season develops. To follow along from home, see how to watch Tulsa Oilers games.
Published Oct. 25, 2026. Results and scorers come from the Tulsa Oilers’ official recaps. Schedules and promotions can change, so confirm details with the team before attending.
