Jets romp to 6-0 win over Edmonton Oilers in season opener

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The Oilers had not played a meaningful game since the most meaningful one of their past twenty years as a franchise, 107 days ago.

Unfortunately, Edmonton’s performance left the impression that the hangover from that Game 7 loss in Florida has yet to subside. The home squad had little going on in a rather uninspired 6-0 loss to the visiting Jets.

No disrespect meant to Winnipeg, who played an economical road game and fully deserved the two points.

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For the home team, however…back to the drawing board.

Here is the tale of the tape…

STUART SKINNER. 3. Made his first opening night start and stoned Scheifele on a breakaway for his first save of the evening and season. Stuffed Kupari in tight. The 1-0 was a rebound from the same shooter. The 2-0 was a bad line change followed by some coverage issues by the Oilers. A dead-tired line broke down in coverage on the 3-0. Crossbar and in for the 4-0. Mercifully lifted for Calvin Pickard after the 5-0. There was a bit of a screen on that one, but you might typically expect your goalie to have it. Stopped only 8 of 13.

CALVIN PICKARD. 5. Solid save on Scheiffele late in the second. No chance on the double deflection 6-0. Stopped 5 of 6.

CONNOR McDAVID. 4. Not much clicking. A breathtaking rush up the ice part-way through the first nearly resulted in a tap-in for Hyman. But that was his best moment. Too late back after a line change to help prevent the 2-0. Poke checked with a wide-open net in front of him early in the second. Paired with 29 & 18 in the third. Fed Leon for a shot early. But 0 shots of his own. -2. Not the McDavid we are used to seeing.

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RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS. 3. A giveaway up the middle of the ice turning into the 1-0 for the Jets. Unable to get a stick on the pass on the 5-0. 2 shots, -2. Did not get much done at all.

ZACH HYMAN. 4. Strong first period backcheck. Dinged the post late in the first. But did not have a lot else going on. 0 shots, -2.

EVAN BOUCHARD. 4. Nasty turnover at the attacking blueline led to a Scheifele breakaway at the other end but Skinner had the answer. Funneled a pass through to Brown for a deflection on net. Gave up too much gap on the 4-0. Good feed for a Draisaitl one-timer late in the second. Good stick disrupted a 2-on-1. Played 25:04 to lead the team. 34-15, 69% CF 5v5. But really seemed to fight the puck much of the night.

MATTIAS EKHOLM. 5. High Dangers 4- 5v5 on his watch. The more solid of the two on this pairing as Bouchard struggled with the puck for parts of the game, leaving Ekholm to some mop-up duty. He was mostly o.k.

LEON DRAISAITL. 5. Beat Pionk on a hard charge to the Jets net and managed to get a backhand-forehand on net. Fed Skinner for a backhand chance. Wicked one-timer off a Bouchard pass on the late second period PP. Hard hit led to a retaliatory penalty at the end of the second. Shot off a McDavid pass in the third. Took a penalty late in the third on a play emblematic of this night: Taken after stumbling in the high slot and failing to get away a short or pass. H e was actually better away from 97. 3 shots.

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VIKTOR ARDISSON. 4. Good back check in the first. Stoned by the goaltender’s outstretched arm in an early second period rebound. That would have made it 2-1 at the time. But we all know how it ultimately turned out. Quiet after that.

JEFF SKINNER. 5. Looked a bit better than his flat pre-season, at least with the puck. Backhand shot off a Draisaitl feed. Lost his man sliding in from the point, leading to the 4-0. Won a puck battle that turned into a shot on net. Led the club in shots with 4.

DARNELL NURSE. 5. This pair had issues, but those were primarily on Ty Emberson. Two smarts sticks in a row by Nurse in his own D-zone in the first. Took his man but could not prevent the pass across on the 2-0 but there were a few players more at fault. Left to defend two men in front on the 3-0. A shot, two blocks, two hits.

TY EMBERSON. 3. Struggled from the word “go”. First period giveaway. Too slow to close on his man on the 2-0. Solid hit on Ehlers early in the second. Spent most of the third period with Kulak on the third pairing.

ADAM HENRIQUE. 6. Led the Oilers best line on this night by a fair chunk. Good early D-zone clear under pressure. Slipped a tidy feed into the middle to Brown for a deflection. A shot net-side after an effective Brown forecheck. Third period takeaway. Smart, calm play deep in his own zone to clear the puck from danger. Maybe the best Oiler on a bad night.

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MATTIAS JANMARK. 5. Excellent shorthanded chance off of a fine pass from Brown. 1 shot.

CONNOR BROWN. 6. A deflection on net from the high slot on a feed from Bouchard. Did it again a couple shifts later from a Henrique pass. Clever forecheck set up a Henrique shot late in the second. Terrific touch on a pass to a breaking Janmark on the PK. Played well.

BRETT KULAK. 5. Part of the scramble in his own zone on the 1-0. A bit slow to the shooter on the 5-0, and maybe a partial screen on the play as well. But over-all he was solid, Scoring Chances 5v5 7-1 on his watch. No HDSC’s. Started with Dermott, finished with Emberson.

TRAVIS DERMOTT. 5. Failed to box out Lowry who puts his second chance in for the 1-0. But really calmed down after that. Recorded an impressive 9-1 on 5v5 Scoring Chances For/Against. Elevated up to the Nurse pairing for most of the third.

DEREK RYAN. 4. Victim of an undetected pic on the 5-0. A shot on net off a Perry pass. Third period slash.

VASILY PODKOLKIN. 5. Heavy hit on Barron early. A shot late in the first. Got puck watching and totally forgot his man on the 3-0. Showed up, at least. Led the team with 4 hits.

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COREY PERRY. 5. Some decent possessions in the attacking zone. Fourth line caught out for 90 seconds in their own end, contributing to Perry being late to his man on the wall on the 3-0. A pass to Ryan for a shot. Pass to Leon for another. Led all forward in 5v5 CF (73%). He was o.k.

So, the Oilers start the season 0-1-0. They host Chicago Saturday.

Now on Threads @kleavins. Also, find me on Twitter @KurtLeavins, Instagram at LeavinsOnHockey, and Mastodon at [email protected]. This article is not AI generated.

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