My heart may or may not have stopped beating... I am too scared to check.

Edmonton needed to come out strong and start the series opener against the Winnipeg Jets off on the right foot. The first period was a little shaky and if not for a good challenge by Dave Tippett Edmonton could have been staring down a 2-0 deficit. Luckily that was not the case and Edmonton came out guns blazing in the second period and eventually earned their third win of the season.

Final Score: 4-3 Edmonton

GOOD STUFF

- Jesse Puljujarvi started the game with Connor McDavid and RNH and continued to play the way that earned him the promotion in the lineup. The big man was skating like the wind, made some great plays and led the team with 6 shots on goal. His assist tonight was his third straight game with a point. This line out-chanced the Jets at every turn.

- Kyle Turris recorded his first goal and point as an Edmonton Oiler from a great pass by the birthday boy Zack Kassian. The third line still has not been clicking (more on that soon) but this was a great shift by the trio and nice to see Turris get the monkey off his back.

- Leon Draisaitl was the big hero with the buzzer beating goal for the Edmonton Oilers but prior to that Draisaitl was still having a good night and was strong on the puck, making a number of good plays while fighting off defenders. It was a great pass Draisaitl made while falling to McDavid that tied the game late in the third period.

- On that same note Kailer Yamamoto continues to be great, scoring the tying goal and playing strong with and without the puck. At one point Yamamoto absolutely laid out Nik Ehlers.

- The fourth line had a fine if unspectacular game which is meeting expectations. Let's at least start there.

- Ethan Bear and Darnell Nurse had a great game together and played like a true top pairing tonight. Nurse in particular played with an edge I want to see from him far more often. Nurse also took some time on the PP and seemed to help give some life to that unit.

- The RNH goal was a result of going to the net and fighting for puck possession and it was the top guys doing it. Hopefully that can rub off on everyone else.

BAD STUFF

- Despite the goal the third line still was giving up far more than they are producing. Neal slotted up and actually the line as a whole played better after that but still things are nowhere near good enough on this line

- Adam Larsson. Once again nowhere near good enough. It was Larsson who got caught looking on the Jets first goal (alongside Kyle Turris) and as the night went on Larsson remained wildly ineffective. I know coaches don't like to change up lineups after a win but at no point would I credit Larsson with being a positive force for this win.

- Fantasy hockey people may want to look at dropping Tyson Barrie. Tonight Barrie was taken off the Oilers top PP unit and replaced with Nurse. I'm not sure how long that will last but Barrie's bread and butter was supposed to be the PP and he has added nothing to it.

- Tyler Ennis is clearly in the doghouse with Tippett. The forward played a team lowest 5:49 tonight.

- The win was great but again mistakes in the defensive zone cost this team. Two quick goals in the third by the Jets could have easily been the difference makers and in the first two quick goals were also created by the Jets (though one was overturned). Edmonton still needs to find a way to sharpen up in their own end.

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Ultimately it was the most exciting game Edmonton played this season and the top two forward lines are looking great right now. Edmonton will look to finish this road-trip 3-1 on Tuesday with their second game against the Winnipeg Jets.

Thanks for reading.

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