Jets thump Oilers in season-opener as Hellebuyck starts off with shutout

Posted on October 10, 2024 by Peggy

The Winnipeg Jets got to work putting last season’s playoff disappointment behind them with Wednesday’s season-opening trouncing of a team that went a lot further in the post-season.

Mason Appleton had a goal and two assists and goalie Connor Hellebuyck made 30 saves for his 38th career shutout in a 6-0 thumping of the host Edmonton Oilers.

The Jets posted the fourth-best record in the NHL last season at 52-24-6, but exited the playoffs in the first round with a 4-1 series loss to the Colorado Avalanche.

The Oilers reached Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final and came agonizingly close to taking it in a 2-1 loss to the Florida Panthers.

“To come into Edmonton, we know the roster they have here, they’re a great team and to get the first win of the season right away, it’s a good feeling and we’re going to look to build on that,” said Jets captain Adam Lowry, who had a goal and an assist.

A hockey player raises his stick in celebration after a goal. — Mark Scheifele celebrates a third-period goal, the Jets’ sixth of the night. (Amber Bracken/The Canadian Press)

Winnipeg’s new head coach Scott Arniel said it’s important the Jets put last season’s conclusion in their rear-view mirror quickly, and the convincing win over Edmonton was a terrific start on that.

“It’s great, just to get the season off on a good note,” Arniel said. “I did have a sleepless night just worrying about some of these guys on the other team there and how powerful they are as a group.

“You want to go through camp, you want to make sure you have a good start to the year and this is a good way of doing it.

“It’s a road win in a tough barn. We’ll take that and move on.”

Hellebuyck continued the form that earned him the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goalie last season and for the second time in his career.

The 31-year-old helped hold prolific Oilers producers Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl off the scoresheet.

“The guys in front of me were just keeping everything outside, allowing me to see pucks, allowing me to feel it, clearing rebounds, clearing lanes,” Hellebuyck said.

“They made my night really easy. Once in a while I made a big save, which allowed me to feel like a part of the team.”

A hockey goalie lifts a leg and pumps his arms in celebration of a win. — Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck gives his signature celly after posting a shutout against the Edmonton Oilers. It was his 38th career blank. (Amber Bracken/The Canadian Press)

The Jets didn’t tinker with their forwards as the 12 who started Wednesday were the same 12 who played last year’s opener.

Rasmus Kupari, Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor and Dylan Samburg also scored for the Jets.

Connor scored in his team’s season-opener for an NHL-record seventh consecutive year.

“We just came out and one line did what they needed to do, the next line came out and did the same thing,” Arniel said. “To win it the way that we did is big against that team.”