• Make no mistake, Matthew Savoie came to play against the Flames. He set up the team’s only goal on a great forecheck. This is the type of play that Savoie excels at in games. He processes the game very quickly and makes quick plays to either get the puck or give it to a teammate.

• Sam O’Reilly had a much better performance in his second game as an Oiler prospect. His defensive game was as advertised. He is such a great thinker of the game on the defensive side that he’s constantly getting himself in good spots to defend. He even made a spectacular recovery on a Flames odd-man break to take away a scoring chance.

• William Nichol also had another excellent performance playing on a line with Jayden Grubbe and Ethan DeJong, Nichol displayed a high end motor, but also a savvy in creating turnovers and then making plays. Despite being slighter in stature, he is very effective along the walls. He understands how to use body positioning and leverage really well to win battles there. Nichol also has an incredibly quick and agile skating style. His skating is a series of constant cross-overs, which allows him to build speed quickly and change directions in a heartbeat.

• Dalyn Wakely was also very good again. His puck touches can get a little clunky, but he certainly seems to get himself into a lot of good spots on the ice. Playing with Matvey Petrov and James Stefan, Wakely was once again the best of the trio. The puck seems to follow him around the ice which is a testament to his understanding of the game as it is happening.

• Connor Clattenburg had another crash and bang outing. This time it included a spirited scrap as well with Parker Bell of the Flames. Clattenburg still struggles with the puck on his stick, but you cannot argue with his desire and compete level in games. He makes his mark on almost every shift.
• Jayden Grubbe had a better second game. His defence and faceoffs are always strong, but he needs to build his offensive portfolio to get himself to the next level. He’s never going to be mistaken for a dangler out there, but he does have good puck skills that are underutilized. In the game against the Flames, I thought he, and Nichol in particular, had some very good moments creating opportunities against the Flames. He looks quicker in his skating as well, which would be a very big development. This is a player that is a year away from NHL games if he can create some offence.
• On the other side of the forwards, Matvey Petrov continues to struggle. This is reminiscent of times in the AHL last season. He could just disappear for big chunks of games, which isn’t great given the opportunity he’s being given. Petrov is getting minutes on the first power play  — which is really bad, by the way — and still not creating anything. There was also a notable moment where his frustrations showed. His line had come on the ice early in the shift with only him remaining on the bench. However, this change got stuck in the defensive zone and the play went for a while. When he finally got on the ice, the Flames were called for icing. Given his linemates had been on for sometime, Chaulk changed the group and Petrov missed his shift. The bad body language police would have written him up a citation for the way he reacted when that happened. Petrov is a player I have a lot of belief in as a NHL prospect. He has all the tools necessary. Perhaps his skating isn’t quite dynamic enough, but he has everything else. What gets him off his game sometimes is the mental side of the game. He needs to improve on that side of the game because he let’s the other team off the hook too often.
• James Stefan also had another quite night. It is clear his size combined with his skating are going to be a challenge. However, right now he seems lost in how to play at this level. He is also struggling with how quick plays are made at the professional level.
• On the defensive side of the game, the Oilers were without Beau Akey again. As mentioned, I suspect he doesn’t play at all in this tourney. The trouble is that left Max Wanner and six camp invites playing each night. The difference in play for the Oilers when Wanner was on and off the ice couldn’t have been starker. When Wanner was on the ice, regardless of the partner, the team defended quickly, transitioned well and attacked often. When Wanner was off the ice, it was chaotic in the Oilers zone. Given the right side in Bakersfield this year, I would bet Max Wanner plays over 20 minutes a night on average. He looks very ready to take another step in his development, and I believe the Oilers have a legitimate NHL player here.
• Shifting gears to the camp invites, Frankie Marrelli was better tonight. He is running the first power play, which is really too big an ask for the 18 year-old. I think that is creating some confidence issues for him. However, I am not sure the Oilers have another option. He was better defending on night two, but the game is very fast for him at the moment. He’s only 18, so I expect he will progress. I still believe his size combined with his style of play make it a challenge for him. Nate Corbet also got himself noticed again. Two games and he’s already had two fights against two very tough, experienced customers. Tonight, he took on Lukas Cioni. This was in response to a hit Cioni layed on an Oiler player. It’s courageous to fight at all in the game, but to do so at the age of 18 against some very seasoned fighters is something else entirely. Corbet struggled like the other camp invites with the pace, but he’s given the scouts something to think about.
• Connor Ungar also got his first game of the tourney. He was solid tonight allowing two goals and making several high danger saves. He has a little scramble in his game that makes me think he is best playing a lot in the ECHL to work on it, but that’s only a first read. He’s aggressive and got a little lucky when the play moved quickly back across his body. Nevertheless, he is a battler and had a solid performance giving his team a chance to win the game.
• One other note, Brady Stonehouse is here at the tourney. Unfortunately, he is injured and so has not played in either game. No word on the extent of the injury.

THE #NATIONVACATION TO DENVER