In an exhibition game between prospects where the name of the game is to make a name for yourself, Rogers Place set the stage for a 6-5 win Friday by the Calgary Flames over the Edmonton Oilers.
Here’s who stood out for the home side in the early Battle of Alberta, rookie edition:
1. Isaac Howard, LW
Perhaps the biggest thing that stood out in the game was how much Isaac Howard didn’t stand out at all in his inaugural on-ice competition in Oilers threads. It was the closest thing to a pro hockey game the 21-year-old has come to playing, so far … and he did nothing of note.
The Hobey Baker award winner as the reigning NCAA’s most outstanding player is expected to stick on the active roster out of training camp, after landing in Edmonton via trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning for prospect Sam O’Reilly on July 8.
On Friday, he played left wing on the top line alongside centre Josh Samanski and right winger Matt Savoie, who wore the captain’s C for the game. Savoie is also expected to crack the Oilers lineup, perhaps even in a top-six role.
2. Matt Savoie, RW
At 6:13 of the third period, Savoie stripped the puck in his own end and shot up ice on a breakaway, only to be interfered with at the last second by Flames forward Andew Basha to earn a penalty shot.
He scored to close the gap to 4-2, deking in and parking the puck past the extended left pad of Flames goalie Owen Say, who tried to make a splits save.
He followed up with his second of the night with 3:28 remaining, taking a pass from Viljami Marjala on an odd-man rush and potting it five hole to trail 6-4.
The St. Albert product was drafted ninth overall in 2022 by the Buffalo Sabres, and had 54 points (19 goals, 35 assists) in 66 games during his first season with the Bakersfield Condors last year.
3. Connor Clattenburg, LW
Like any good Battle of Alberta, these prospects wasted no time getting right to some rough stuff.
Oilers forward Connor Clattenburg stepped into the ring to take on Flames defenceman Alex Hurtig with the game not quite five minutes old. Clattenburg slipped while tossing his first punch, getting back up amid a barrage of punches to his face, but managed to get in one good shot on his 6-foot-5 opponent before the officials stepped in.
It was his first of two fights on the night, as the 6-foot-2, 198-pound native of Arnprior, Ont., finished the game with 14 penalty minutes.
He also provided a spark on the scoreboard. With the Oilers trailing 6-2, he found himself alone with the puck in front of Calgary’s net with 3:44 remaining in the third period, when he sent a shot past Say’s blocker. It was the first of three goals in the frame, as the Oilers looked to mount a comeback.
The 20-year-old Clattenburg was drafted in the fifth round (160th overall) in 2024. He had 35 points (16 goals, 19 assists) in 46 games as captain of the Ontario Hockey League’s Flint Firebirds last season.
Honorable mention: Rhett Pitlick stole the puck from Flames defenceman Hunter Brzustewicz in the Oilers zone, and sprung centre Marjala on a breakaway, which he potted through the legs of Owen Say 4:25 in to put the Oilers ahead 1-0. Marjala finished with a goal and an assist.
E-mail: gmoddejonge@postmedia.com
On Twitter: @GerryModdejonge
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