After the Oilers failed to convert their first power play, the local product in Savoie – wearing the ‘C’ as the only player on their roster with NHL experience – flashed his high-end skill in connection with linemate Isaac Howard by taking a quick pass in the neutral zone and splitting the D for a great scoring chance.
Savoie was part of a loaded top line with Howard, the 2025 Hobey Baker Award winner with Michigan State, and Josh Samanski, a veteran of three pro seasons in the DEL in Germany with the Straubing Tigers before signing a two-year ELC with the Oilers this past April.
“I think there was a little bit of natural chemistry there with us too,” Savoie said. “I think in the game, I think it was just nice to get my feet wet and get back into the mix of things. You haven’t played a game for three months or so, so it’s obviously nice to feel some bodies and feel the puck on your stick and get to skate with it. When you’re playing real five-on-five, it’s a different animal out there, so it was good to get my feet wet.”
For the St. Albert product, wearing the ‘C’ as captain for the Oilers Rookies was a major source of pride.
“It’s a tremendous honour to get to wear the ‘C’ in any game or any tournament or anything like that, so especially with the Oilers logo on there, it’s pretty special growing up as an Oilers fan,” he said. “I’m just trying to lead by example, be as welcoming to the new guys as I possibly can, and we have a really good group of guys, so it’s been pretty easy.”
Calgary equalized at 11:40 of the opening frame on a scrappy goal that came off a loose puck below Edmonton’s goal line that led to Hunter Laing being left alone in front to shovel a backhand under goaltender Samuel Jonsson’s glove to make it 1-1, closing out the scoring in an evenly-matched opening frame.