Quinn Hutson wasted no time showing why he stood out in Edmonton’s rookie win over Calgary, and the Oilers’ newcomers followed his lead all the way to a 6-1 result.
Hutson was the engine early and kept finding the right spots. He had a strong stick on a penalty kill to help clear the puck, then beat Flames goalie Arsenic Sergeev over the shoulder a shift later with a power-play finish to the top shelf.
He also battled his way to a puck in the offensive zone and created a dangerous chance for Andrew Robinson from the high slot in the second period. Later, he nearly added another after a strong Howard battle won possession.
Isaac Howard kept building as the game went on and finished with a major hand in Edmonton’s attack. He was mostly quiet at first, then started to make noise in the second period with a hard shot off a Carfagna pass.
Late in the period, he took a Samanski feed in stride, drove in, and fired another heavy shot. His biggest sequence came in the third, when he worked like a pest on the forecheck, won the puck, and set up Hutson for a one-timer.
Not long after, Howard crashed the net and scored Edmonton’s fourth off a Marjala pass. He also fed Simon Tassy late in the third for a shot that rang off the crossbar.
Tomas Cibulka made an impression with his lateral skating and calm puck movement. He kept a puck in early on the power play, worked hard along the boards, and helped move the puck up ice with good skating and passing.
He also showed some bite in the corner late in the first period and took a hit to make a difficult pass during a second-period power play. The one rough spot came in the third, when he lost his man on a Flames rush and gave up a dangerous rebound chance.
Josh Samanski was difficult to move and won most of his battles, using his size and positioning well. The one blemish was a turnover that led to a dangerous Gridin shot in the second period, though Oilers goalie Eemil Vinni came up with a big save to keep the damage down.
Rudolfs Berkalns got a first real look for plenty of Oilers fans and looked like a big, hard-working, raw prospect. He drove into the slot and got off a solid wrister in the third, with Edmonton scoring its third goal on the rebound.
In Other News...
Connor Zary Has A Real Opening To Change Calgarys Offense
Connor Zary is back in the mix just in time for a camp that could shape the Flames forward picture, and that alone makes him one of the more interesting young players to watch in Calgary. Cleared to participate after a late-season injury issue, he arrives with a chance to show the organization that his skill set can translate into something bigger than the flashes he offered a year ago.
The opportunity is real because the Flames are still looking for more offense in the right places, and Zary has already shown enough to suggest there may be another level there. Last season was useful but not definitive, and camp now gives him a clean runway to press for a larger role if he can stand out among the competition. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Roster Battle Is Taking Shape After First Camp Cuts
The first wave of cuts at Flames camp has begun to clarify the roster picture, with Calgary sending seven players back to their major junior clubs after recent training camp work. Forwards Riley Boychuk and Brett Olson were among the group, along with a cluster of prospects the organization has been watching closely since their draft years.
The moves also get those young players back to where they need to be for the start of the junior season, and several are lined up to hit the ice in the coming days. For Calgary, it is another early step in a camp that is already separating the long shots from the names still in the mix, while leaving the next round of decisions ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Prospects Gave Fans Plenty To Talk About Against Edmonton
The Flames prospects got a first taste of the Battle of Alberta stage at the Scotiabank Saddledome in a NextGen Showcase matchup with the Oilers, and there was no shortage of takeaways even in a lopsided result. Edmonton struck twice in the opening period and stayed in control from there, while Calgary spent much of the night trying to find any rhythm against a group that dictated play early and often.
Still, the game offered a few moments worth noting for Calgarys development staff and the fans watching closely. Aydar Suniev provided the lone bright spot on the scoreboard, and the crease situation became part of the story as Arsenii Sergeev gave way to Kirill Zarubin during the contest. It was the kind of prospect night that left more questions than answers, but also plenty to revisit once the dust settles. [Read more 🡒]