GDB -1.0 Wrap Up: Edmonton Oilers begin pre-season with 2-1 shootout loss to Winnipeg Jets
10 months ago
Losing is never fun, but thankfully Edmonton’s loss on Sunday afternoon was just a tune-up game.
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The Oilers kicked off their pre-season against the Winnipeg Jets, losing 2-1 in a shootout. The first period saw the only scoring in the game, as Dominic Toninato scored the opening goal on a breakaway before Zach Hyman tied the game on the power play.
It was a rather even first period, with Winnipeg outshooting Edmonton 13-12, but Edmonton took over in the second and third period, outshooting Winnipeg by 15. An overtime period solved nothing and then the Jets won in the shootout.
Let’s take a look at the OilersNation’s Player of the Game as well as things worth mentioning.
PRESENTED BY BETWAY
OilersNation’s Player of the Game: Olivier Rodrigue
The goaltender from Chicoutimi, Quebec was selected with the 62nd overall pick in the 2018 draft. He most recently played for Bakersfield Condors in 2022-23, posting a .912 save percentage and a 2.77 goals-against average in 29 games.
On Sunday, he saved 25 of the 26 shots he faced, with the only goal coming on a breakaway after the Oilers’ zone possession fell apart.
It’ll be a big year for the 23-year-old goaltender, who is set to start his fourth season in the American Hockey League. Hopefully, he can build off last season’s success.
Things worth mentioning…
Beau Akey is going to be a dude. He’s obviously a few seasons away from making an impact in the NHL, but his smooth skating and composure under pressure will be an asset for the Oilers for years to come. This will be a big year for him in Barrie.
Mattias Janmark is a little sparkplug. I somehow keep forgetting that the Oilers managed to re-sign the Swedish-born forward, but I’m glad they did. Last season, he scored 10 goals and had 25 points in 66 games, which was below his career-best 19 goals and 34 points, but Janmark is a great secondary scorer who can kill penalties.
Zach Hyman scored the only Oilers goal and the first goal of the pre-season. Of course, it came on the powerplay, and of course, he was standing in front of the net doing his thing. Last season was by far a career-best for Hyman, who scored 36 goals and 83 points in 79 games. He’s exactly who the Oilers needed to be when they signed him, but he’s been even better.
It’s a quick turnaround before Edmonton’s second game of the pre-season, as they play the second game of a home-and-home against the Jets in Winnipeg on Monday at 8:00 PM MDT
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