The Oilers have allowed 21 goals in nine games (2.33 per game) under Hitchcock, tied with the Flames and Vegas Golden Knights for third-fewest in the NHL since Nov. 20, and overall they are 16th in goals against (87 in 29 games; 3.00).
"We're buying into his system," defenseman Adam Larsson said. "I don't think we should expect seven goals a night but when we play good defensively, I think that's when we create most of our offensive chances.
"Looking at our play lately, we've been way better defensively. That gives us a chance to win every night."
Until Friday, every Oilers game under Hitchcock was either tied or had a one-goal margin entering the third period.
Hitchcock said he was nervous after a Zack Kassian goal extended Edmonton's lead to 4-1 early in the third period Friday.
"The third period, to me, was a good sign that when we get a lead, we're not going to go and play loose," Hitchcock said.
The outburst against the Wild wasn't changing Hitchcock's outlook or his habit of being a stickler for details, especially defensively.
"It's an evolution," he said of his task in Edmonton. "There haven't been enough hockey practices. We were just in there and I was complaining about things that I didn't address in practice (this week) that popped [into] their head during the game. I wished I would have spent a little more time on certain things at practice, so I think it's a work in progress.
"But we're starting to look exactly the same when the other team has the puck and that's a good sign."
Hitchcock will coach his 1,546th NHL game Sunday, the fifth-most in history, but this will be the Edmonton native's first involvement in the Battle of Alberta.
The first game of the season between the teams, three days before he was hired, featured some high emotion and strong dislike. It started a 9-1-1 run for the Flames, who have surged into first place in the Pacific Division.
"I think Calgary is probably one of the best transition teams in the NHL right now," Hitchcock said. "That's something we've got to take them out of. If there's emotion and an extra level of intensity and it feels like a playoff game, then where our team's at right now, that's going to make us nothing but better.
"I hope it's really a high-strung affair and that we can see how we perform."
Kassian had 26 penalty minutes in the loss to the Flames on Nov. 17, when the Oilers blew a 2-0 lead.
"Let's be honest," Kassian said, "Calgary's a good team and they've got a lot of firepower and we let them stick around in the third, and they've come back in a lot of hockey games this year and we were on the wrong end of that one."
He said discipline will be on his mind Sunday.
"We can play the right way and still get the message across," he said. "Those are fun games to play in and I enjoy playing in them. You just make sure you get to play in them, not sit in the box all day."
Larsson said game day against the Flames is a day to look forward to.
"I think this group really, really enjoys playing it so it's going to be a fun day [Sunday]," he said. "They're playing really well. We have played really well lately. I think it's just going to be a good, intense game [Sunday] with two good teams. It'll probably be good for the fans, too."
Hitchcock simply wants the focus to be right.
"I've been involved in so many of these (rivalries)," said Hitchcock, who has coached the Dallas Stars, Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets and St. Louis Blues. "I just think if you want to win, you're going to have to plow through the distractions. If the distractions lead to frustration or lack of focus, they don't do any good. I'm sure both teams are trying to get the other team's attention. But these next three games are going to tell us a lot of the things we're good at and the things we need to work on."
