It’s finally here! If it feels like forever since we last watched meaningful Edmonton Oilers hockey, that’s because it has been - 152 days, to be exact.

The Oilers will be looking to start the season with a win, something they haven’t done since 2022-23, when they beat the same Vancouver Canucks they face to begin the 2026-27 campaign. Beyond the obvious of watching for a highlight-reel goal, sparkling goaltending performance, or other crazy moment during the game, what else will Oilers fans be watching for on Tuesday night?

What can fans expect from Tristan Jarry and the Oilers’ goaltending?

Goaltending remains one of the most talked-about topics in Edmonton. With Frederik Andersen injured, the net will be split between Tristan Jarry and Devon Levi to begin the season. Jarry will get the net in the opener and is coming off a very strong preseason. He made three appearances, finishing with a .952 save percentage (SV%) and a 1.24 goals-against average (GAA). Levi wasn’t far behind, posting a .946 SV% and 1.20 GAA, including a great outing against the Flames on Saturday night

Oilers fans will be watching for a massive improvement from Jarry’s 2025-26 campaign. This will look like quiet and controlled movements in the crease rather than over-sliding and scrambling. Rebound control will also be key for Jarry - when he is on, rebounds are either sent to the corner or are non-existent. He is also an active puck-playing goaltender - the more he is out of the net, breaking up dump-ins, and helping his defencemen with the breakout, the more comfortable he is.

Conversely, what if Jarry struggles? He’ll have a team that’s still learning new systems in front of him, and that could result in some breakdowns. If Jarry lets in a soft goal or his performance isn’t up to par, how quickly will the coaching staff be to make a change, either in-game or going forward? Being that it’s early in the season, they likely want to be careful about eroding confidence; however, the Oilers’ crease is as competitive as it’s been in a long time this season, leaving the goaltenders with little room for error.

How will the Oilers’ special teams look in the season opener?

Special teams will be an intriguing watch to start the season as well. Some teams experience challenges on the power play to start - shaking off the rust and becoming comfortable with the other four players can take some time. The Oilers shouldn’t have this issue - their personnel has remained the same from last season and features what looks to be an extra-motivated batch of some of the league’s most skilled players. The Oilers have been successful on the man-advantage in past season openers, scoring at least a goal in all but one of their last five debuts. That includes a sizzling five-for-10 clip against the Canucks during that span. The team was without Zach Hyman to start last season and struggled in the games following the opener - with a fully healthy top unit to start the 2026-27 season, look for the Oilers to start the season looking sharp with an extra man.

The penalty kill has been a different story, with the Oilers allowing at least one power-play goal against in the last five season openers. The team brought in Jason Dickinson, who might miss the season opener, and Connor Murphy last year to try and shore up the kill. The group finished 20th in the league in the regular season and operated at only a 50 per cent success rate against the Anaheim Ducks in the playoffs last year. They will need to improve these metrics for the team to be successful this season. Early showings in the pre-season were better. The team finished nine-for-11 on the kill, with one of those goals being a five-on-three marker. The PK should have a different look under the tutelage of DJ Smith - look for more pressure and less of a focus on containment to start the year. While the Canucks don’t wield the same scoring prowess as they did a few years back, their top power-play unit will put this new system to the test to start the season.

What role will Isaac Howard play in Edmonton’s lineup?

The Ice Man has gotten a lot of attention throughout training camp and the preseason as the team looks for the highly touted prospect to break out. It’s clear that the coaching staff was giving Howard every opportunity to get comfortable and make an impression, having him participate in all four preseason games. He started rather quietly but had an excellent showing in the third game where he grabbed two points, took seven shots, and played nearly 18 minutes. He was much quieter in the preseason finale against the Flames on Saturday night, however, and that may have cost him an opportunity to start the season in the top six. Kasperi Kapanen looks to be slotted into the second line winger spot, alongside Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman, leaving Howard destined for the third line. We’ll be watching for Howard to force the coaching staff to take notice when he’s on the ice by getting chances and finding good scoring areas. This will be tougher with a smaller role; however, a couple of good plays early could have Howard on the move if things don’t go according to plan. His offensive upside is impossible to ignore, but he needs to give fans and the coaches a reason to think it will surface on Tuesday night.

How will the Oilers fill Jason Dickinson’s role during his absence?

The Oilers received more tough injury news on Friday, as Jason Dickinson tweaked the lower-body injury he dealt with during the end of last season and in the playoffs. Dickinson’s spot in the Oilers’ lineup is an important one as he is pencilled in to serve as the third-line centre and a very important piece on the penalty kill. Dickinson’s status for the opener seems doubtful, and his absence would leave a hole to start the season.

Fill-ins for Dickinson’s duties will come by committee - after a strong showing in the preseason and Mike Babcock praising him for playing the right way, Owen Michaels looks to be taking Dickinson’s place at third-line centre to start the season. Flanked by Trent Frederic and the aforementioned Isaac Howard, Michaels will be tested with playing strong defensive hockey and stealing some time in the offensive zone in his NHL debut. The injury represents an opportunity for Frederic as well - coming off a very challenging campaign last year, Frederic has the opportunity to seize an increased role to start the year. Look for him to engage physically - throwing a big hit early, getting in on the cycle, and being in a good defensive position will get him noticed, forcing the coaches’ hands for more ice time. With the depth the Oilers have in their bottom six, the players with the opportunity in game one will need to leave an impression to stick.

We talked about the importance of the Oilers’ penalty kill already, and Dickinson’s absence will increase the challenge to start the season. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will likely see increased time on the PK, but the centre spot on the second unit is more curious. Will Dickinson being out result in Connor McDavid taking on some time on the kill? Will Babcock and DJ Smith run a second unit without a true centre, throwing Leon Draisaitl out to take a faceoff if needed? If the Oilers’ final tune-up on Saturday night was any indication, it will be some form of the latter.

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