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. They91裸聊视频檝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 year91裸聊视频檚 Oilers team and this year91裸聊视频檚?

91裸聊视频淲hen I got here, one of the things I noticed, obviously, was the frustration,91裸聊视频� he said after the Oilers91裸聊视频� 4-1 loss Sunday to the rival Calgary Flames. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 only three games in. But that frustration, definitely it91裸聊视频檚 there 91裸聊视频� but not at the point that it was when I came here.

91裸聊视频淏ut obviously we have to correct what91裸聊视频檚 going on right now.91裸聊视频�

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 team91裸聊视频檚 play so far this season: 91裸聊视频淒isconnected.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e getting beat in a lot of battles, we91裸聊视频檙e getting beat in a lot of different ways,91裸聊视频� said McDavid. 91裸聊视频淭he puck play has been bad all over. Guys have been fumbling it, guys not handling it. Passes in the air, passes behind guys, it91裸聊视频檚 just not good enough in terms of the puck play.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淥bviously, we have to play with more desperation,91裸聊视频� said Knoblauch. 91裸聊视频淲hen you had a season like we did last year, coming back, and the expectations being really high, I don91裸聊视频檛 think there91裸聊视频檚 enough desperation 91裸聊视频� This game is about playing with desperation, but, right now, we91裸聊视频檙e lacking that.91裸聊视频�

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. They91裸聊视频檙e also the oldest team in the NHL, the only squad in the league with an average age over 30.

91裸聊视频淪ometimes, I think there can be a bit of an adjustment with new faces,91裸聊视频� said veteran forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of the team91裸聊视频檚 short-handed about-face. 91裸聊视频淏ut I don91裸聊视频檛 think it91裸聊视频檚 the new guys or personnel 91裸聊视频� it91裸聊视频檚 about getting back to what makes our penalty kill tick.

91裸聊视频淚 think maybe we91裸聊视频檙e a little hesitant with our routes. Later in the season, it91裸聊视频檚 just so natural 91裸聊视频� it91裸聊视频檚 kind of finding it, again.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e not quitters in here, we never have been,91裸聊视频� said McDavid. 91裸聊视频淟osing three in a row off the bat is not ideal, but it91裸聊视频檚 nothing we can91裸聊视频檛 work our way out of.91裸聊视频�