The Winnipeg Jets opened up new season Wednesday with a decisive 6-0 win over the defending Western Conference Champion Edmonton Oilers
The Winnipeg Jets started off their season with a bang as they trounced on the Edmonton Oilers for a 6-0 blowout win in their season opener.
The Jets' standout third line of Nino Niederreiter, Adam Lowry, and Mason Appleton demonstrated their value by contributing three of the team's six goals, including the first two goal that put Winnipeg on the board first.
Niederreiter started things off by working a bank shot off Oilers' netminder Stuart Skinner's pad out in front to Lowry, who corralled a loose puck and caught Skinner out of position for the first goal of the game.
They followed it up with another goal on fast break into the Oilers end, where Niederreiter again worked the role of distributor as he found a wide open Appleton, who walked in and fired a shot low glove side for an early 2-0 lead.
Winnipeg continued to keep their foot on the gas entering the second period, when defenceman Josh Morrissey put a slap pass through for fourth-line centre Rasmus Kupari, to redirect into the back of the net for a easy tap in goal. Just 20 seconds later, Appleton dishes a pass to defenceman Dylan Samberg, who entered the Oilers' end with speed and a clear shot at the net, which he doesn't waste and blast a shot top shelf past Skinner for the Jets fourth goal of the game.
Improving their power play was a focus during Winnipeg's offseason under new head coach Scott Arniel, especially after finishing 22nd last season with an 18.8 percent success rate. They showed significant improvement by taking advantage of a hooking penalty by Edmonton's Ty Emberson, scoring their fifth goal of the game.
Star winger Kyle Connor cycled the puck before firing another low corner shot on Skinner to extend the Jets lead to five. Connor's goal made history as he was the first player to score in seven straight season-opening contests.
The third period was more of the same as the Jets capitalized on another penalty, this time by Edmonton's Leon Draisaitl with a quick re-direct from veteran Mark Scheifele.
Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck showed why he is the reigning-Vezina trophy winner as he stopped all 30 of the Oilers' shots for his 38th shutout of his career and extended his record to 14-13-3 versus the Oilers.
It was a perfect start to the season for the Jets and they hope to build off the momentum when they return home to take on the Chicago Blackhawks Thursday night.