PENTICTON, B.C. — Matthew Tkachuk didn’t make any friends in his first instalment of the NHL’s Battle of Alberta.
No surprise there.
The Calgary Flames’ first-rounder did, however, make an impact in Saturday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers at the Young Stars Classic in B.C.’s Okanagan Valley, scoring once and proving for the second consecutive night that he has a nasty streak.
“You get drafted by this organization and the first team you want to beat is the Oilers,” Tkachuk declared after Saturday’s morning skate. “That’s what we want to do.”
The Flames didn’t get the win — Oilers winger Jaedon Descheneau cashed in on a breakaway just 47 seconds into the three-on-three overtime session — but Tkachuk should be pleased with his personal performance in his second outing at the annual rookie tournament in Penticton.