3 major takeaways from Edmonton Oilers' blowout 6-0 season opener loss to Winnipeg Jets

The Edmonton Oilers were on the wrong side of an opening night blowout on Wednesday, sustaining a 6-0 loss against the Winnipeg Jets at Rogers Place.

A disastrous second period was the difference in the game. The Edmonton Oilers gave up five goals by the end of the middle frame, essentially putting the game out of reach by the second intermission. Adam Lowry, Mason Appleton, Rasmus Kupari, Dylan Samberg, Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele scored for the Jets.

Here are three key takeaways from the Oilers' crushing 6-0 loss in their season opener against the Winnipeg Jets.

3 major takeaways from Edmonton Oilers' blowout season opener loss

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#1. The Oilers’ defense took the night off

The Edmonton Oilers defense was nowhere to be found. The club gave up six goals on 20 shots, easily making it one of their worst recent performances.

The Jets easily weaved in and out of the Oilers’ zone, creating scoring chances without much resistance. Meanwhile, Edmonton struggled to control the puck, clear rebounds and protect the net.

Their defensive breakdown was epitomized by the Jets scoring two goals in 20 seconds, highlighted by Dylan Samberg's conversion, where he walked into the zone and rifled a shot through traffic after a pass to the point.

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#2. The Oilers could not get past Hellebuyck

The Edmonton Oilers fired 30 shots on net, but Jets’ goaltender Connor Hellebuyck turned them all aside. The Oilers did not generate very many high-danger opportunities and seemed to run out of gas in the third, failing to get much momentum going.

Overall, Hellebuyck was at the top of his game on Wednesday night, and the Oilers couldn't find a way past him.

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#3. Stuart Skinner faltered

The biggest storyline in this game had to be Stuart Skinner’s shockingly poor performance. Skinner gave up five goals on 13 shots, marking the worst showing of his young career.

Calvin Pickard took over midway, giving up Scheifele’s power-play goal in the third. Pickard managed to settle things down, but it was too little, too late.

While the Oilers' defensive performance played a huge factor in Skinner’s poor showing, he looked lost at times, unable to track the puck.

Kyle Connor’s power-play goal, where Skinner had a clear view but reacted too late, was a glaring example.

The Oilers will need Skinner to shake off the bad outing and be ready for their next game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday night.