Reviewing the Edmonton Oilers past season openers

The season opening game for an NHL franchise is one of the most anticipated games of the season. This year was a special one for the Oilers, as they opened up the new season on home ice against the Calgary Flames. Over the past four seasons, the Oilers have had some awesome opening games as well as some disastrous ones.

Let’s take a trip down memory lane and review the previous four Oilers season openers.

2021–22 against the Vancouver Canucks

The 2021–22 season began with a significant amount of energy. This was because it was the first normal season back from the pandemic. The Oilers were looking to kick their season off on the right foot, and boy, they delivered. Former Oiler Jesse Puljujarvi got things started in the first period, before Zach Hyman scored his first goal as an Oiler in the second. The Oilers led by two going into the third and blew it, as Quinn Hughes tied the game late in the third.

This season opener remained tied at two going into a shootout. Goalies Thatcher Demko and Mike Smith held both of their teams in it, forcing the shootout to go five rounds. Veteran player Kyle Turris buried the game-winner in the shootout to give the Oilers a massive win on opening night. This win provided the Oilers with fantastic early momentum, as they went on to win their first five games and nine of their first ten.

2022–23 against the Vancouver Canucks

The 2022–23 season opener was one of the most memorable recent opening games for the Oilers. They were coming off a fantastic season that ended with a Conference Final loss to the Stanley Cup winning Colorado Avalanche. This season began against the Canucks on home ice. This game was Jack Campbell’s debut as an Oiler, and it was a rough start. The Canucks took a 3–0 lead in the second after Andrei Kuzmenko scored a goal early in the second. It was all Canucks until Tanner Pearson took a two-minute penalty for hooking.

The Oilers capitalized on this power play as Leon Draisaitl scored the Oilers’ first goal of the year. A McDavid power play goal and a late shorthanded goal from Darnell Nurse followed this up. It was all tied at three going to the third. McDavid took matters into his own hands and scored the game-winning goal with just under five minutes remaining. The Oilers superstar recorded an opening night hat trick, as he buried an empty-netter to seal the deal.

2023–24 against the Vancouver Canucks

Yet again, the Oilers were set to open their new season against the Canucks. Unfortunately, this game was a complete disaster to start the season. An early fight between Dakota Joshua and Vincent Desharnais took place to welcome back the game of hockey. This provided a boost for the Canucks, and an awful collapse for the Oilers. Vancouver scored twice in the first period, as Connor Garland and Brock Boeser netted their first goals of the season.

Boeser took over in the second period, recording an opening night hat trick less than halfway through the game. This was the end of the road for Campbell, as he was replaced by Skinner after this. Fortunately for the Canucks, this did not bring a swing of momentum. Vancouver led 5–1 going into the third, and tacked on three third period goals. Boeser finished the game with four goals, having a historic October night in Canucks history.

2024–25 against the Winnipeg Jets

After having consecutive season openers against the Canucks, the NHL finally decided to have the Oilers open a new season against a different team. It was not an easy task, as the Jets are a great NHL squad. This game proved that. The Oilers had themselves another embarrassing opening night, as the Jets completely dominated them in this one. Well, that is at least what the score indicates. The Oilers actually controlled a lot of the play in this game. They did not give the Jets many offensive looks, as they held them to only twenty shots.

It was a night that Skinner would love to forget as he gave up five goals on only eighteen shots. This started his season with a .615 save percentage, a terrible way to start a new year. Calvin Pickard went in to back him up, which became a theme that last season. Pickard appeared in thirty-six games last year, being the second most in his career. He even had to bail Skinner out in the playoffs and Stanley Cup Final.

2025–26 against the Calgary Flames

This year’s home opener was a special one. A Battle of Alberta to begin the season is an awesome way to kickstart the fans, especially with the energy in Oil Country following the insane run in training camp from general manager Stan Bowman.

Both teams were a bit beat up going into opening night. Zach Hyman, Mattias Janmark, and Jake Walman missed opening night with injuries. Walman recently signed a seven-year extension, solidifying his role on the Oilers’ blueline. Meanwhile, the Flames were without Jonathan Huberdeau and Martin Pospisil due to injuries as well.

Despite a quick start from the Oilers, specifically Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, a 3–0 lead evaporated after a bad bounce, a questionable goal review, and a mid-season form Skinner move leading to a shootout loss. But hey, at least it wasn’t as bad as the last two season openers.