In Edmonton, goaltender Calvin Pickard received a familiar question from a reporter, a routine occurrence like ordering a regular coffee at a drive-thru.
He responded with a smile, pointing out that the same question was posed last year, and then, predictably, provided the identical answer.
Just five games into the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the feeling of déjà vu is already intense.
Goalie Connor Hellebuyck is conceding goals in the playoffs that he typically stopped during the regular season from October to March.
The Maple Leafs continue to struggle with finishing games and appear strangely unconcerned about this fundamental issue, treating it as a minor setback rather than a deep-seated problem.
The high-powered Oilers are establishing a lead over the more reserved Los Angeles Kings, while officiating throughout the league faces widespread criticism.
While some long-running series might lose their appeal, the first round of the playoffs somehow remains consistently entertaining, even when it feels like a repeat performance.
And speaking of predictability… was that another late hit by Matthew Tkachuk?
Game 5 between the Kings and Oilers wasn`t just the most lopsided playoff contest in recent memory, but according to advanced statistics, it was the most unequal game based on scoring probability since 2017.
Tristan Blackwood