General manager Peter Chiarelli made significant moves last summer, trading the popular Hall to the Devils for Larsson. He also signed two important free agents, left wing Milan Lucic and Russell, introducing players that helped stabilize the Oilers, on and off the ice.
Just as important, coach Todd McLellan laid much of the groundwork last season, chastising players publicly when things looked too much like the efforts that resulted in poor results in past seasons.
In doing so, McLellan helped raise the bar for what's acceptable and what's not so that the demand for a new standard -- one far beyond what the Oilers were accustomed to in recent seasons -- was less of a shock this season.
"The main thing that separates this team and the teams in the past that I played against [in Edmonton], is the ability to trust in the system and trust in the game plan, and having the belief in it," Lucic said. "I think that has what has helped us come out on top in these types of situations where in the past this team normally is not coming out on top."