Parsons stops 39 to lead Mavericks to season opening win at Tulsa

A 39-save effort by goaltender Tyler Parsons helped the Kansas City Mavericks open the ECHL season with a 5-3 road win at the BOK Center in Tulsa against the host Oilers on Friday (Oct. 13, 2017)

Formerly known as the Missouri Mavericks, the ECHL affiliate of the Calgary Flames and Stockton Heat, rolled out of the opening period with a 2-0 cushion despite being outshot 11-5.

The Mavs added one more in the middle frame and owned a 4-0 cushion in the third before Dennis Brown finally found a way past Parsons near the four-minute mark of the final period.

Oilers, ECHL affiliate of the St. Louis Blues threw everything at Parsons down the stretch and managed three goals on 20 shots.

That got the home team to within a goal but Mark Cooper’s empty netter with three seconds to go clinched the win for the Mavericks who will play just once on the opening weekend.

Matt Robertson scored twice for the Mavs with other goals coming from Justin Breton and Dan Correale. Conner Bleackley and Joey Sides notched the other Oiler tallies and Jake Hildebrand made 20 saves in goal for the home team.

The Mavericks will say on the road next weekend, playing a pair at Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne against the Komets. First home game at the Silverstein Eye Centers Arena won’t be until Oct. 28 when the same Oilers pay a visit.