In his first game at the helm of the Edmonton Oilers, head coach Kris Knoblauch expressed his satisfaction with his team’s performance in exhibition play. Despite none of the players in the lineup having participated in the club’s recent deep playoff run, the Oilers managed to secure a 3-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets.
The hero of the game was defenceman Cam Dineen, who not only scored the overtime winner but also contributed an assist. Alongside Dineen, Sam O’Reilly and Raphael Lavoie found the back of the net for the Oilers, who are looking to bounce back from their heart-wrenching loss in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final against the Florida Panthers.
Knoblauch praised his team’s effort, particularly highlighting the strong performance of the defensive unit. “The defensive corps, all six of them played really well, obviously highlighted by Dineen,” he remarked. “I can go through the lineup and I thought a lot of guys played really well.”
One player who made a significant impact in his Oilers debut was O’Reilly, chosen 32nd overall in the 2024 NHL entry draft. “I tried to come in with a good mindset, to stay positive and stick to myself and what I do, but obviously going out there and seeing all those people, you get a little nervous,” O’Reilly admitted. “But you have to shake it off and just play hockey. It gave me confidence getting that first goal pretty early. It feels good and I will try to keep building off of that.”
Despite the loss, the Jets head coach Scott Arniel was pleased with the opportunity to field a younger roster in the exhibition game. “Both teams dressed some younger lineups and it’s great for them,” Arniel stated. “We got to see last night, I think we had six or seven that had never played in an NHL game and it’s great for them to do that.”
As the pre-season progresses, both the Oilers and the Jets will continue to evaluate their rosters and prepare for the challenges that lie ahead in the regular season. The competitive spirit was evident in this exhibition matchup, setting the stage for an exciting season of NHL hockey.
