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Chances are, with new faces belonging to half the forwards, it will take this team a little longer to jell before heading off to the races, as expected. It doesn't help the core of the roster knowing firsthand how little playoff seeding and jockeying in the regular season means once the playoffs arrive. They just want to hurry up and get there, already.

The flip side is Stanley Cup windows don't remain open forever, and the Oilers have already had their day in the sun. What we're witnessing could very well be the beginning of the end, and a new Western Conference representative will be crowned this year. That sort of usurping tends to happen fast, and leave teams looking around, wondering what happened.

That would certainly explain the horrendous losses that have been mounting up. I mean, falling 5-1 to the measly Buffalo Sabres? Heck, that might have been the most demoralizing setback of them all.

Another explanation could also be the rest of the room is done with all the soft goals getting let in early, and whether subconsciously or otherwise, have gotten to the point where they just toss in the towel whenever it happens, and are done with the goaltending in its present state. This recent shift that has seen Stuart Skinner allow one goal over the past six periods could be the response everyone has been waiting for.

Or maybe they'll wind up right back to even their next time out. Wouldn't be surprising.