EDMONTON, AB -With Saturday afternoon's loss to the San Jose Sharks, the Edmonton Oilers have dropped five consecutive games since Dec. 16.
The players expressed their disappointment following the game, indicating their first opportunity to right the ship would come during Sunday morning's practice.
For Oilers Head Coach Ken Hitchcock, this tough stretch is also an opportunity to create "teaching moments" with his club.
"You have to make a decision in this league. You either have to coach or just want to win," said Hitchcock following Sunday's on-ice session. "If you just want to win, you won't last. These are coaching moments. Teaching moments. I like a lot of the things we're doing but I don't like the fact that we're trying to skill our way back into games rather than work our way like we were earlier. That's maturity. We're trying to get this team to grow up quick.
"These are nothing but teaching moments. Getting angry at people who are emotionally disappointed, that's not my job. My job is to bring hope and coach. I learned a long time ago I need to figure out the difference if I want to last long."
With an 18-17-3 record, the Oilers currently sit four points out of the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. The Oilers have been outscored 25-12 in their last five games (four games against conference opponents and the other against the league-leading Tampa Bay Lightning).
"This is a very mature conference. A lot different than the East," said the bench boss. This is not effort based. It's my job to point out the difference between working and trying to play with too much skill to get back into games. When you play with skill, that's too much risk."
Edmonton will have another stiff test on Monday when they host the Western Conference-leading Winnipeg Jets for a New Year's Eve showdown.
BLOG: Hitchcock embracing "teaching moments"
"These are nothing but teaching moments. Getting angry at people who are emotionally disappointed, that's not my job. My job is to bring hope and coach," said Hitchock.
