Quote:
Originally Posted by Enoch Root
Certainly conditioning doesn't hurt, but it isn't the reason. Can't blame posturing because they are solid in the third regardless of the score. To suggest luck is just silly - it isn't 'lucky' to play well. Effort, sure. And coaching, sure.
But I think the biggest thing is confidence. Hockey is a game of confidence and the Flames believe in themselves. Once they start rolling in the third, they just believe. And it keeps them going.
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I agree, confidence is huge. But if you look at that list, all the options which are in the Flames control (ie minus luck and other team factors), conditioning is an end result of the other options. Conditioning is a coach pushing players beyond what they are currently capable of so they can be capable of more, and then pushing them beyond that. This leads to a high level of conditioning. The players have to put in effort to meet the coach's demands and their own personal goals. The end result of putting effort in on the ice and off the ice everyday is superior conditioning.
So, the myriad of factors is a good answer, but IMO, all those different factors have lead to a team that is superbly conditioned and likely the best in the league in that regard. While other teams are gassed they keep pushing. That ability has lead to confidence in themselves. But I guarantee Hartley points to hard work leading to confidence and not the other way around.