THROWBACK THURSDAY: A history of home openers

EDMONTON, AB - It's been a long time coming for the Oilers to host their 2018-19 NHL home opener at Rogers Place.
October 18 is the longest Oilers fans have had to wait to see their team at home outside of lockout years in 1994-95, 2004-05 and 2013-14 due to the club opening this season on the road in Germany and Sweden as part of the NHL Global Series earlier this month. Visits from the New York Rangers and Winnipeg Jets back on October 1 during the 1999-00 and 2013-14 seasons respectively are the earliest dates the Oilers have ever opened up their home campaign.
Tonight will be the first time the Oilers have taken on the Boston Bruins in their first home game of the season after having already visited the Bruins on the road this season following their arrival back in North America. The most frequent franchises to serve as opposition for the Oilers on opening night historically are the Calgary Flames (7), Detroit Red Wings (5), the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche (4) and the Winnipeg Jets/Arizona Coyotes (4).
The Oilers are 21-12-5 in their home debuts since joining the NHL in 1979.
Ahead of tonight's visit from the Bruins, let's look back at some of the best Oilers home openers in recent memory:

October 4, 2017: Oilers 3, Flames 0 | BOX SCORE
A second-straight home opener against the Calgary Flames and third in four years proved bountiful for the Blue and Orange, with who else but captain Connor McDavid at the forefront.
Fresh off his first-career Art Ross and Hart Memorial trophies a year prior, McDavid's hat-trick provided all the scoring in a 3-0 win over for the Oilers over their division rivals. Leon Draisaitl added two helpers, and Cam Talbot recorded a 27-save shutout and the 19th of his career.
The Oilers finished the year at home with a 25-12-4 record.
October 12, 2016: Oilers 7, Flames 4 | BOX SCORE
A seven-spot against the Flames was a victory of substance for a number of reasons for the Oilers.
McDavid's three-point night (2G, 1A), including a goal via the penalty shot, kickstarted his first MVP season and scoring title that included 100 points while also capping off a memorable opening night for Rogers Place.

The victory ended a four-game losing streak in home openers for the Oilers dated back to a 6-3 loss to the San Jose Sharks in 2013.
October 7, 2010: Oilers 4, Flames 0 | BOX SCORE
We all remember the call:
"Here's Eberle. Eberle backhander… What a beautiful goal! The toe drag! From forehand to backhand! And the Oilers extend to a 2-0 lead! Jordan Eberle, WOW!" Oilers play-by-play voice on 630 CHED Jack Michaels said eight years ago.

Eberle's first NHL goal in his professional debut took the roof off Rexall Place, with Nikolai Khabibulin earning the shutout with a whopping 37 saves against the Flames. Ales Hemsky, Shawn Horcoff and Gilbert Brule recorded goals in the victory.
October 5, 2005: Oilers 4, Avalanche 3 | BOX SCORE
Potentially nobody but the 2005-06 Edmonton Oilers could've known what started on that night in October.
Returning to the ice after losing the 2004-05 NHL season to a lockout, a win over the Avalanche was the start of a memorable run to the Stanley Cup Final for the Oilers, losing in seven games to the Carolina Hurricanes with star seasons from the likes of Hemsky, Horcoff, Jarrett Stoll, Ryan Smyth, Chris Pronger and Dwayne Roloson.

The top line of Smyth, Horcoff, and Radek Dvorak combined for three goals and eight points on the night in the club's first home opener against the Colorado Avalanche franchise.