Coming into the season’s first game, you had to wonder whether the Oilers would be their early 2023-24 selves, or the team we saw in the Stanley Cup Finals. Turns out it was the former.
The Oilers played their first game of the season on Wednesday, falling 6-0 to the Winnipeg Jets. Similarly, they lost 8-1 to the Vancouver Canucks in last year’s season opener, the same campaign where they went 2-9-1 to start the year.
The Jets had a chance early in the game as Mark Scheifele had a breakaway, but Stuart Skinner denied him. It was one of eight saves Skinner made.
However, it all went downhill from there. The Jets got on the board with just over five minutes left, as Jets’ captain Adam Lowry banged in his own rebound. A few minutes later, another Jets’ third liner, Mason Appleton, faked a pass and beat Skinner to make it 2-0.
Heading into the second period, it was far from over. However, Rasmus Kupari was left alone to the left of Skinner and found the back of the net. The Jets scored their fourth of the game 20 seconds later, as defenceman Dylan Samberg beat Skinner from the slot.
On a power play with just over half the game remaining, Kyle Connor scored to chase Skinner from the pipes and put the Canucks up 5-0. Continuing the “allowing power play goals” trend, Scheifele scored on Calvin Pickard to make it 6-0.
Takeaways…
Losing 6-0 is bad, but at least the Oilers didn’t blow a 4-1 lead like the Vancouver Canucks did to the Calgary Flames. Speaking of the Canucks, they defeated the Oilers in the 2023-24 home opener 8-1, so at least the Oilers allowed two fewer goals this time around.
Edmonton’s goaltending was poor, to put it simply. Skinner finished the game with a .615 save percentage before he was pulled, while Pickard allowed a goal on seven shots for an .857 save percentage.
It was the complete opposite for the Jets, though, as the 2023-24 Vezina Trophy winner, Connor Hellebuyck, saved all 30 shots he faced. The Oilers finished with more shots but couldn’t beat the best goaltender in the world while their goalies struggled. It’s as simple as that sometimes.
On Saturday, the Oilers are back at it as they host Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks. Like the Oilers, the Blackhawks lost their season opener, falling to the Utah Hockey Club 5-2 on Tuesday. Hopefully, the Oilers can pick up a win as they defeated the Blackhawks all three times last season.
