3 Keys to Oilers Victory in Season Opener Against Jets – Hockey Writers – Edmonton Oilers

The regular season is finally here, and after going to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final last season, the Edmonton Oilers are ready to make another deep playoff run. Their quest for Lord Stanley begins Wednesday night (Oct. 9) when they host the Winnipeg Jets from Rogers Place. If the Oilers want early season success, here are three keys to victory:

Start on time

It’s imperative that the Oilers get off to a good start in their first game. At the beginning of last year’s season, the Oilers lost 8-1 to the Vancouver Canucks. That ultimately led to their 2-9 record to start the campaign. They can’t afford that either, so they need to push the pace, forecheck hard, and make a few early hits to get emotionally invested in the game.

The Oilers are at home, so by scoring the first goal, you get your fans into the game right away, and build some confidence. There is a lot of excitement in the air about the start of the new season and expectations for this team, so it is important to give the fans something to be excited about early on.

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A good start will build momentum given how badly they played in the pre-season. This team seemed to lack enthusiasm for the most part, winning only three times and losing five times. There was no tension, it looked like they were just taking it easy. They can’t carry that into the regular season. This is a very good hockey team and they need to play at their best.

Skinner and Arvidsson Need to Contribute

There’s no better way to fit in with your new team than to get on the score sheet in your first game. Leon Draisaitl finally has official teammates with the additions of Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson. Skinner is a six-time 30-goal scorer and Arvidsson is a two-time 30-goal scorer. They have a chance to absolutely improve on this roster and another 30 goal season is a possibility for both of them. If these three can find chemistry early, the Oilers will have success.

Both rookies are not in the prime of the power play, so most of their points should come at five-on-five. That is important for a team desperate for second points. If they can find their offensive touch, that will go a long way in securing a win for the Oilers. Their scoring will not only help the team in this game, but it will also give these players a big boost of confidence going forward, endearing them to this group of die-hard fans.

Stuart Skinner You Need to Be Sharp

This goes hand in hand with the first key to victory because, like the team, Stuart Skinner also needs a good start. Edmonton’s netminder cannot allow the first shot of the game as he has done so many times throughout his young career. Since we’re at home, the Jets’ first goal will get the crowd out of the game. You need to be on the phone from the moment the puck hits the ice. There will be jitters to open the season, so a few early saves will help calm those nerves and help him get into a rhythm.

The Oilers are 5-4-1 against the Jets in their last 10 regular season meetings, with eight of those games decided by two goals or less. Every time these two teams meet, the games are always highly contested which makes the battle for goals very important. One mistake can be the difference maker.

Skinner will go head-to-head with Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck, which is no easy task. Skinner has had the most success against the Jets in his career, posting a 4-0-1 record with a 2.01 goals against average (GAA), and a .932 save percentage (SV%). If he can put up similar numbers in this one, the Oilers should win this hockey game. Simply put, Skinner needs to outlast Hellebuyck.

I hope the Oilers learn from their mistakes and get off to a much better start this season. They lost in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final on the road. If they hadn’t gotten off to a slow start, they would have had a chance to ice the ice in every playoff game that might have led to the Oilers winning the Stanley Cup. There are few mistakes in this league and a bad start is very difficult to overcome. They need to show why they are the Stanley Cup favorites, and that starts with a win in their home opener against the Jets.