On Feb. 2, the Prince Albert Raiders held Buffalo Sabres prospect Matt Savoie pointless in their 3-1 loss to the Moose Jaw Warriors.
What’s so significant about that? Well, it marks the last time Savoie, 20, did not record a point in a game.
The ultra-talented center has registered at least one point in his last 29 outings, including 13 contests in the Western Hockey League playoffs.
He continued his torrid point streak in Friday’s 5-4 overtime loss to the Saskatoon Blades in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Championship, registering an assist (however, he was a minus-3). The Blades lead the best-of-seven series 3-2. Game 6 is Sunday afternoon.
Savoie, having compiled eight goals and 19 points during the postseason, is ending his junior career on a tear. Incredibly, he ranks fourth on a deep Warriors team in playoff scoring, trailing Jagger Firkus (26 points), Denton Mateychuk (25 points) and Brayden Yager (20 points).
Update: Savoie recorded an assist in Sunday afternoon’s 4-3 overtime win. Game 7 is Tuesday.
Savoie, the ninth overall pick in 2022, has enjoyed a dynamic campaign, proving he has outgrown junior hockey.
Prior to his prolific postseason, he scored 30 goals and 71 points in just 34 regular-season games, a whopping 2.1 points per contest. Opponents held him pointless just twice. He registered 15 goals and 35 points during his 16-game streak to close the regular season.
Remember, the Canadian Hockey League denied the Sabres’ petition to allow him to play regularly in the AHL. As a teenager at the beginning of the year – he turned 20 on Jan. 1 – he’s ineligible to play in the minors until his junior team’s season has ended.
After Savoie injured his elbow and shoulder Sept. 19 in the Prospects Challenge rookie tournament in Buffalo, he missed all of NHL training camp and began the season practicing with the Sabres.
The Sabres sent him to Rochester on a conditioning stint – that’s allowed under the collective bargaining agreement – and he scored two goals and five points in six games with the Amerks.
Following his NHL debut Nov. 3, the Sabres assigned him to the Wenatchee Wild (the Ice moved to Washington last offseason). The Wild traded him to Moose Jaw on Jan. 4.
If Moose Jaw is eliminated, Savoie could join Rochester. The Sabres assigned him to the Amerks during the Calder Cup Playoffs last season after Winnipeg was eliminated.
The Buffalo Press Box draft recap is live. Does Keon Coleman satisfy the #Bills need at receiver? What can be learned from some of #Buffalo‘s draft decisions? Who’s going to make an impact right away? @BillHoppeNHL and I discuss all of that and more.https://t.co/wBQdg1Dply
— Nick Sabato (@NickSabatoGNN) May 1, 2024
