Just listening to Brad Marchand rebroadcast interview on NHL radio. He's a very good listen - smart guy.
Anyway in midst of BOS historic regular season he was talking about how he and team did not care about standings (perhaps just cliche) but he said they just focused on the details important for playoff success. He mentioned how much confidence was important.
He went on to say regular season is only important for getting to 16. Said the regular season you get guys tired some games, focus not there, teams are on back to back or they just have brutal travel. In the playoffs everyone's leadership level is at the highest.
Once playoffs start it is entirely new season. So many factors for playoff success (obviously need good players) like everyone healthy, get some calls get some bounces and importantly how you match up. He cited a year they finished first overall but had they played DET they may have lost (went 0-4 in reg season) that to him it truly doesn't matter where you finish.
Pretty interesting as everyone knows what happened in this playoff but thought it kind of covered things being said here about CGY how good/bad some think chances are for playoffs and even some coaches being discussed.
Teams that get that confidence and belief can do incredible things and it's not luck. It is confidence and belief.
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