It was 11 months ago when Kris Knoblauch was brought in to coach the beleaguered Edmonton Oilers, who were near the bottom of the Western Conference standings with a 3-9-1 record.

The team had endured a shocking start to the season. Frustration was at a high, confidence was at a low. But, the team recovered from that start, roared into the playoffs, won the Western Conference, and got within a game of winning the Stanley Cup.

Fast forward to this season, and the Oilers are enduring another miserable October. They香蕉视频直播檝e started off a season-opening homestand with three straight losses and have been outscored 15-3.

So, does Knoblauch see any similarities between last year香蕉视频直播檚 Oilers team and this year香蕉视频直播檚?

香蕉视频直播淲hen I got here, one of the things I noticed, obviously, was the frustration,香蕉视频直播� he said after the Oilers香蕉视频直播� 4-1 loss Sunday to the rival Calgary Flames. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 only three games in. But that frustration, definitely it香蕉视频直播檚 there 香蕉视频直播� but not at the point that it was when I came here.

香蕉视频直播淏ut obviously we have to correct what香蕉视频直播檚 going on right now.香蕉视频直播�

The offence has sputtered, despite having the likes of Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, who are usually at the top of the NHL scoring charts.

The Oilers have scored just two even-strength goals. And the power play, led by McDavid and Drasaitl, has just one goal in three games, with only five chances.

There is one word that consistently crept into what Knoblauch and his players said about the team香蕉视频直播檚 play so far this season: 香蕉视频直播淒isconnected.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e getting beat in a lot of battles, we香蕉视频直播檙e getting beat in a lot of different ways,香蕉视频直播� said McDavid. 香蕉视频直播淭he puck play has been bad all over. Guys have been fumbling it, guys not handling it. Passes in the air, passes behind guys, it香蕉视频直播檚 just not good enough in terms of the puck play.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淥bviously, we have to play with more desperation,香蕉视频直播� said Knoblauch. 香蕉视频直播淲hen you had a season like we did last year, coming back, and the expectations being really high, I don香蕉视频直播檛 think there香蕉视频直播檚 enough desperation 香蕉视频直播� This game is about playing with desperation, but, right now, we香蕉视频直播檙e lacking that.香蕉视频直播�

The Oilers penalty kill gave up just four short-handed goals in two months of playoff hockey this past spring. However, they surrendered five power-play markers in the first two games this season.

Player turnover can be partly to blame for those woes. Forwards Ryan McLeod and Warren Foegele took regular turns on that almost unstoppable penalty kill of the previous spring. In the off-season, McLeod was traded to Buffalo and Foegele signed with Los Angeles.

Defenceman Cody Ceci was traded to San Jose, and rearguard Vincent Desharnais signed with Vancouver in the off-season. Those players also played roles in short-handed situations.

Yes, the Oilers have added forwards Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson, who should add scoring prowess to the second line. But, in losing Foegele, McLeod and forward Dylan Holloway (to St. Louis), the Oilers have lost foot speed. They香蕉视频直播檙e also the oldest team in the NHL, the only squad in the league with an average age over 30.

香蕉视频直播淪ometimes, I think there can be a bit of an adjustment with new faces,香蕉视频直播� said veteran forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of the team香蕉视频直播檚 short-handed about-face. 香蕉视频直播淏ut I don香蕉视频直播檛 think it香蕉视频直播檚 the new guys or personnel 香蕉视频直播� it香蕉视频直播檚 about getting back to what makes our penalty kill tick.

香蕉视频直播淚 think maybe we香蕉视频直播檙e a little hesitant with our routes. Later in the season, it香蕉视频直播檚 just so natural 香蕉视频直播� it香蕉视频直播檚 kind of finding it, again.香蕉视频直播�

Knoblauch said that some of the issues can be addressed through practice, but the hectic schedule to start the season gives the team no real time for those needed sessions. The Oilers played Saturday and Sunday, have a mandated off-day Monday, host the Flyers Tuesday and then are in Nashville Thursday and in Dallas next this coming Saturday for a matinee.

McDavid is sure, however, that the team can find its way out of it once more.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e not quitters in here, we never have been,香蕉视频直播� said McDavid. 香蕉视频直播淟osing three in a row off the bat is not ideal, but it香蕉视频直播檚 nothing we can香蕉视频直播檛 work our way out of.香蕉视频直播�