EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) 鈥� Eleven months ago, the Edmonton Oilers lost 10 of their first 13 games and
Kris Knoblauch was brought in as his replacement, the team recovered and roared into the playoffs, winning the Western Conference and losing Game 7 of a thrilling Stanley Cup Final to Florida.
The Oilers have started off a season-opening homestand with three straight losses and have been outscored 15-3, a surprising result for a team that is the betting favorite to win the Cup. Does Knoblauch see any similarities?
鈥淲hen I got here, one of the things I noticed, obviously, was the frustration,鈥� he said after the Oilers鈥� 4-1 loss Sunday to Calgary. 鈥淚t鈥檚 only three games in. But that frustration, definitely it鈥檚 there 鈥� but not at the point that it was when I came here. But obviously we have to correct what鈥檚 going on right now.鈥�
Even with Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, the Oilers have scored just two even-strength goals. The power play has just one goal in three games, with only five chances. They've given up five power-play goals.
There is one word that consistently crept into what Knoblauch and his players said about the team鈥檚 play so far this season: 鈥淒isconnected.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e getting beat in a lot of battles, we鈥檙e getting beat in a lot of different ways,鈥� McDavid said. 鈥淭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鈥檚 just not good enough in terms of the puck play.鈥�
Forwards Ryan McLeod and Warren Foegele were anchors for the penalty kill last season and both are gone, McLeod traded to Buffalo and Foegele signing with Los Angeles. Cody Ceci and Vincent Desharnais also left.
The Oilers did add forwards Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson, who should add scoring prowess to the second line. But, in losing Foegele, McLeod and forward Dylan Holloway, the Oilers have lost some of their speed. They鈥檙e also the oldest team in the NHL, the only one with an average age over 30.
鈥淪ometimes, I think there can be a bit of an adjustment with new faces,鈥� said veteran forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. 鈥淏ut I don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 the new guys or personnel 鈥� it鈥檚 about getting back to what makes our penalty kill tick. I think maybe we鈥檙e a little hesitant with our routes. Later in the season, it鈥檚 just so natural 鈥� it鈥檚 kind of finding it, again.鈥�
Knoblauch said that some of the issues can be addressed through practice.
鈥淥bviously, we have to play with more desperation,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen you had a season like we did last year, coming back, and the expectations being really high, I don鈥檛 think there鈥檚 enough desperation 鈥� This game is about playing with desperation, but, right now, we鈥檙e lacking that.鈥�
The Oilers played Saturday and Sunday, host the Flyers on Tuesday and then are in Nashville on Thursday and in Dallas on Saturday.
McDavid is sure the team can find its way out of the doldrums once more.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not quitters in here, we never have been,鈥� said McDavid. 鈥淟osing three in a row off the bat is not ideal, but it鈥檚 nothing we can鈥檛 work our way out of.鈥�
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