Jets drop preseason opener 5-2 in Edmonton

It was a strong effort from the Winnipeg Jets in their preseason opener, particularly considering the young lineup they put on the ice against an Oilers team featuring Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard.

Bouchard had four assists, while McDavid and Draisaitl each recorded a goal and an assist as the Oilers picked up a 5-2 victory over the Jets at Rogers Place on Saturday night. Parker Ford and Jacob Julien scored for Winnipeg, while Thomas Milic made 23 saves.

"Great opportunity for the kids to come in and come in and get a chance to play in this building, and to see those four other guys that they're lining up against I'm sure it was a thrill for a lot of them," said head coach Scott Arniel. 

"But there's guys trying to make our hockey team. We have some spots that are open, and and and that's pretty much what the message was. Go out and show us what you do best. "

It was Viggo Björck's preseason debut with the Jets, one week after he played for Winnipeg at the 2026 Prospect Challenge in Quebec. The young Swede played just over 20 minutes, had two shots on goal and won 41% of his faceoffs.

"It's all getting a sort of acclimated, get him accustomed to the NHL speed and kind of what happens," said Arniel. 

"And I think that every day he's practicing with our big guys. That's that helps him move along. But you see, there's a real good hockey player there." 

Brad Lambert played on the same line with Björck and Isak Rosén, the 2022 first round pick of the Jets sees a huge opportunity for himself at this training camp.

"I think you know I came in expecting to you know prove that I belong, prove that I you know deserve a spot on that team, and I think that's the that's the biggest expectation," said Lambert.

"And then not only that out of training camp, but continue proving myself throughout the season, and every day is is an opportunity."

Ford opened the scoring just 1:58 into the game, beating Oilers goaltender Tristan Jarry with a wrist shot to give the Jets an early lead.

Edmonton responded just under five minutes later when Ryan Shea found the back of the net at 6:52, tying the game at one.

But Connor McDavid would give the Oilers the lead before the period was over, scoring at 9:31 to make it 2-1 Edmonton. McDavid finished a play set up by Stanislav Stastney and Ty Emberson, putting Edmonton ahead in what was an entertaining opening 20 minutes.

Midway through the second period, Yager broke in on a partial break from just outside the Oilers’ blue line, but Leon Draisaitl tracked him down and managed to knock the puck off the Jets forward’s stick.

The Oilers would extend their lead moments later, with Draisaitl whipping a quick shot off the far post and in behind Milic to make it 3-1.

1:43 later, Alex Formenton got in behind the Jets defence and outwaited Milic’s outstretched pad before sliding the puck into the net, giving Edmonton a 4-1 advantage at 13:51.

"I think the effort was there, just maybe the execution was off at times," said Ford.

"That's a fast team over there. Sometimes throwing pucks away that maybe we could make a better play and execute on that. But I felt the effort was there from everybody."

In the third, the Jets used the momentum that came from killing off a penalty to score their second goal of the night. Lucas Wahlin did some nice work to get the puck out front to Jacob Julien, and he simply tapped it in behind Matt Tomkins to cut the Oiler lead to two.

Colton Dach finished the scoring with an empty net goal at 18:53.

ICE CHIPS

Before the game, the Jets announced that they had assigned three players to their respective junior clubs.

Defenceman Noa Ta’amu was assigned to the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL, defenceman Alexandre Taillefer was assigned to the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL, and forward Jacob Cloutier was assigned to the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL.