The Tahoe Knight Monsters hit the road to face the Tulsa Oilers on Friday in what marked their fourth game of the 2025-26 season. The matchup took place at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with puck drop set for 5:05 PM. Coming into the game, Tahoe held a 1-2-0 record and was eager to bounce back after suffering back-to-back losses to the Idaho Steelheads. Meanwhile, Tulsa entered the contest at 1-1-0, looking to build momentum early in their campaign. Historically, the Knight Monsters have had the upper hand in this rivalry, leading the all-time series 7-1-2. The last meeting between these two teams came on March 22nd, when Tahoe edged out a 2-1 victory.
The Tahoe Knight Monsters and Tulsa Oilers faced off in what marked Tahoe’s fourth game of the season, with both teams hungry to notch their second win of the year. After opening the season with a strong performance, the Knight Monsters stumbled through back-to-back losses and were determined to bounce back on the road. Defensive struggles had been a recurring issue for Tahoe, as late-period breakdowns and trouble protecting leads had cost them valuable points early in the campaign. Tulsa, aware of those weaknesses, looked ready to capitalize. The Oilers entered the game following a pair of tightly contested one-goal matchups against the Iowa Heartlanders and were fueled by the energy of their home opener. Adding to the intrigue, roster changes for Tahoe (stemming from injuries within the Vegas Golden Knights organization) added a layer of uncertainty heading into the night. With history on their side but pressure mounting, the stage was set for an exciting showdown. Would the Knight Monsters maintain their dominance over Tulsa, or was it time for the Oilers to flip the script and begin a new chapter in this rivalry?
Between the pipes, #34 Jordan Papirny got the start in net for the Tahoe Knight Monsters, marking his second appearance of the season. On the other side, the Tulsa Oilers turned to #30 Vyacheslav Buteyets, who was also making his second start of the year. Both goaltenders were looking to make an impact and set the tone early for their respective teams in this pivotal matchup.
Just four minutes into the opening period, the Tahoe Knight Monsters struck first to take an early lead. Forward #29 Sloan Stanick found the back of the net, giving Tahoe the advantage. The play was set up beautifully by #25 Casey Bailey, who picked up the assist on the goal. It was exactly the kind of quick start the Knight Monsters were hoping for as they looked to regain their rhythm.
Six minutes into the first period, Tulsa’s Jérémie Biakabutuka was sent to the penalty box for tripping, giving the Tahoe Knight Monsters their first power play of the night. As the man advantage was nearing its end, #94 Kevin Wall capitalized, finding the back of the net to extend Tahoe’s lead to two. The goal was set up by #92 Sloan Stanick and #76 Trent Swick, who combined to keep the puck moving and create the scoring opportunity. It was a strong early statement from the Knight Monsters, who looked sharp and in control.
Moments after Tahoe’s second goal, tempers flared as Anthony Collins of the Knight Monsters and Cade McNelly of the Oilers dropped the gloves. The two exchanged punches in a spirited scrap, earning matching five-minute majors for fighting. The intensity continued to build, and with just under nine minutes left in the opening frame, #15 Jake McGrew added to Tahoe’s momentum, scoring to give the Knight Monsters a commanding three-goal lead. On the same sequence, Tulsa’s Roman Kinal was handed a delay of game penalty and a game misconduct for sending the puck into the spectator area, further tilting the momentum in Tahoe’s favor early on.
With just under seven minutes remaining in the first period, the Tulsa Oilers finally broke through to get on the board. Forward #27 Easton Armstrong buried the puck to cut into the Knight Monsters lead. The goal was set up by #45 Jaxsen Wiebe, who earned the assist with a well-placed pass that opened up the scoring chance. The tally gave the Oilers a much-needed spark as they looked to shift the momentum before the first intermission.
With just under four minutes remaining in the opening period, Tulsa’s Easton Armstrong was sent to the penalty box for interference, giving the Tahoe Knight Monsters another power-play opportunity late in the frame. Although they couldn’t add to their lead on the man advantage, Tahoe maintained control and carried a 3-1 lead into the first intermission, setting the tone for the rest of the night.
With under five minutes remaining in the second period, #92 Sloan Stanick scored for the Tahoe Knight Monsters. His goal regained a three goal lead for Tahoe. His goal was assisted by #94 Kevin Wall and #25 Casey Bailey.
The second period was a clean one, with neither team taking a single penalty, the first penalty-free period of the season in a Tahoe Knight Monsters game. The disciplined play allowed the game to flow smoothly, and Tahoe maintained control throughout. As the horn sounded to end the frame, the Knight Monsters held a commanding 4-1 lead heading into the third period, firmly in charge of the matchup.
Just a minute into the third period, Jake Durflinger of the Tahoe Knight Monsters was called for high-sticking, putting his team on the penalty kill early in the frame. Despite the setback, the Knight Monsters stayed disciplined and kept the Tulsa Oilers off the board. Neither team found the back of the net in the final period, and Tahoe held strong defensively to secure a 4-1 victory.
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The Tahoe Knight Monsters came out flying, striking first with three unanswered goals to open the game and set the tone early. The Tulsa Oilers managed to get one back before the end of the first period, but the Knight Monsters still held firm control. In the second half of the game, Tahoe sealed the deal with a fourth goal, putting the final nail in Tulsa’s coffin. From there, the Knight Monsters locked things down defensively and kept the Oilers off the scoresheet for the remainder of the night. It was a strong, complete performance for Tahoe as they earned their second win of the season and showed real improvement in maintaining their lead from start to finish.
The Tahoe Knight Monsters controlled much of the game statistically, outshooting the Tulsa Oilers 37-26 and making the most of their chances with a higher shooting percentage. Tahoe also earned two more power play opportunities, while Tulsa struggled with discipline, racking up fourteen more penalty minutes. In net, Knight Monsters goaltender #34 Jordan Papirny was outstanding, turning aside 25 of 26 shots for an impressive 96% save percentage. On the other end, #30 Vyacheslav Buteyets faced heavy pressure and made 33 saves, finishing with an 89% save percentage for the Oilers.
With the win, the Tahoe Knight Monsters improved their record to 2-2-0 to start the 2025–26 season, earning four points through their first four games. The early results place Tahoe 18th overall in the ECHL standings, while they currently sit 7th in the Western Conference and 4th in the Mountain Division. It’s a solid position for the Knight Monsters as they look to build momentum and climb the standings in the weeks ahead.
The Tahoe Knight Monsters are set to face the Tulsa Oilers once again in a back-to-back matchup. The teams will meet at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for the second game of the series. Puck drop is scheduled for 1:05 PM, as the Knight Monsters look to build on their momentum and secure another strong performance on the road.
Zac Electrifly 
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