By Jashan Parmar,The Win Column

Copyright yardbarker

The Calgary Flames prospects completed the sweep of the Edmonton Oilers prospects, winning 5-4 Sunday afternoon. Many fans came out to watch the kids play, some of whom seem poised to take a roster spot at main camp later this week. They showed promise and resilience as they once again battled back after giving up the first goal of the game. Just like Friday’s matchup, there were three key takeaways from the youthful rendition of the Battle of Alberta.

Aydar Suniev

While you could highlight the performance of multiple guys out on the ice, today we focus on Aydar Suniev. The 20-year-old managed two assists while also being tenacious in every aspect of the ice. He found space with and without the puck; his control and handling were evident when he had the puck on his stick. The third-rounder has come a long way in his development, and he is looking to expand upon his NHL debut back in April. Add in a plethora of shots, and he was making a strong case for himself to build upon now.

Head Coach Brett Sutter said after the game that he felt Suniev, alongside David Silye and Parker Bell, was the best of the night. “I thought that line was our best line, to be honest with you, with (Parker) Bell and (David) Silye. They played against the other team’s top guys most of the night, and they controlled it for the most part.” “He (Suniev) drove the pace of play. I thought he was one of the most noticeable forwards for us for sure.”

Offensive abilities

Once again, the Flames’ offence was high-flying. A five-goal performance, the team was once again looking completely different than last season. A team that struggled completely in the offensive zone has been rejuvenated. The prospects are doing what the main team was unable to do and are providing a light at the end of the tunnel. Mael Lavigne, Nathan Brisson, Matvei Gridin, Colton Alain and Hunter Laing all scored. Laing and Gridin were also contributing factors to the offence on Friday night as well.

While the kids may be young, they don’t act like it. Their maturity is far beyond their years. They expect to win; they expect the best out of themselves. After the game, when asked about his performance, Matvei Gridin simply said, “We won. That’s the most important thing.” That sort of commitment to each other and the team’s play is going to go a long way for them in their careers.

With the two-game showcase now completed, focus now shifts towards the main training, which will begin this week. The main roster will tune up with the youngsters looking to unseat some veterans for a roster spot. Preseason begins on September 21 against the very same Oilers. Those eight games will be the final tune-up and roster decisions before opening night on October 8.