Hitchcock searching for commitment to style of play that suits Edmonton Oilers

It was a harsh criticism after another lopsided loss.

It sounded like the head coach of the Edmonton Oilers was saying that his players weren’t that interested in winning games.

“At this time of year, the coaches can’t want it more than the players,” Ken Hitchcock said after Saturday’s 5-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks.

But after practice on Monday, Hitchcock said that’s not what he meant.

“No, I didn’t say that,” he said. “I meant the coaches can’t want it — and I meant style of play — more than the players. The players have to want that style of play.

“The way we have to play to win is a very difficult game. We have to play that way to do it. It’s very challenging. It’s physically demanding. It’s not fun, but it’s the way we’re built right now. We have to play this way.”

Either way, Hitchcock said the players aren’t doing things they are capable of doing. The team was gritty and determined Thursday night in Minnesota, but sleepy and negligent Saturday against the Sharks.

Hitchcock has repeatedly mentioned that the Oilers know the formula for success but aren’t consistently executing it.

“It’s a roll-up-your-sleeves, get-your-hands-dirty message. You’re gonna make mistakes along the way,” Hitchcock said. “We’re built a certain way, and when we play outside of that, we don’t have success.

“I know the players are frustrated, and we’re frustrated at times with it.”

“We’re upset, too,” said forward Alex Chiasson. “Our play has to be better. We’re the ones that have put ourselves in this situation.”

Watch below: Some videos from Global News’ coverage of the Edmonton Oilers’ 2018-19 season.

1:20 Klefbom returns to Oilers lineup after injury

• Klefbom returns to Oilers lineup after injury
• Oilers’ Ken Hitchcock explains connection with legendary hockey coach Clare Drake
• Twitter reacts to Nicholson’s ‘something in water’ comment
• Shaye Ganam and Bryan Hall debate how to fix the Edmonton Oilers
• Edmonton Oilers fans wonder what’s next for the team after Chiarelli fired
• Timeline: Peter Chiarelli’s time with the Edmonton Oilers
• Edmonton Oilers fans on GM Peter Chiarelli being fired: ‘It was about time’
• Edmonton Oilers part ways with general manager Peter Chiarelli
• Ken Hitchcock will be Edmonton Oilers head coach until end of season
• ‘Our best fans in the league are frustrated right now,’ Nicholson says
• Nicholson says ‘something in water’ in Edmonton
• Edmonton Oilers looking for GM who can assess talent
• ‘He was disappointed,’ Nicholson says of Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli being let go
• How will management fix the Edmonton Oilers?
• Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli was fired after 2nd period against Red Wings Tuesday night
• Peter Chiarelli did not make Mikko Koskinen deal on his own, Nicholson says
• ‘We had to make this change’: OEG CEO Bob Nicholson on firing Peter Chiarelli
• Edmonton Oilers have fired Peter Chiarelli
• Online reaction to Edmonton Oilers firing general manager Peter Chiarelli
• Loyal to Oil event sees hundreds of industry workers attend Edmonton Oilers game

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Ty Rattie and Matt Benning didn’t practise on Monday. Hitchcock said they’ll skate Tuesday to see how they’re doing with their injuries.

Defenceman Andrej Sekera will continue his conditioning assignment with his third game with the Bakersfield Condors on Wednesday.