With District Tournaments taking place throughout the week and the Girls State High School Hockey Tournament starting tomorrow, we’ve officially reached the most exciting time of the season… playoff hockey!

For most teams dreaming of making it to a Minnesota Hockey Region or State Tournament, the #Drive2State will require beating a team that may be ranked higher, have a better record or you may have lost to already this year. That’s okay though. Part of what makes playoff hockey so much fun is knowing you have to play at or near your best to move on.

Below are a few keys to help your team rise to the challenge at the right time.

Believe. Together.

The first step in any upset is having confidence in yourself and your teammates.  Know in your heart that if you work together, you can do it.

That confidence can come from a variety of experiences you’ve had this season. It can come from a memory of one of your team’s best games or a close contest against the team you’re about to face. Maybe your team has been dealing with injuries and is getting healthy at just the right time. Or you can simply take pride in how much the entire team has improved over the course of the season due to all of your hard work in practice.

Regardless of which of these applies best to your team, focus on that positive thought or memory leading up to the big game and use it to your advantage.

Be Prepared

As a team, your goal should be to come out fast and furious in the first period.  In order to do that, it’s important to prepare the right way leading up to game time.

Do your best to get a good night’s rest, eat a meal that will supply you with lasting energy and make sure your hydrated. Once you get to the rink, dynamic stretches can help get your body and mind ready to play. After that, it’s time to strap on the pads and start thinking about puck drop.

A Playoff Athlete’s ABC’s

The American Development Model has made it well known that developing good hockey players starts with the ABC’s: agility, balance and coordination. When it comes to playoff hockey though, the ABC’s could also refer to Always Be Competing.

As the intensity and pressure increase in games, it’s important to keep the game simple. Do your best to skate hard and compete throughout the entire game. If you compete as hard as you can for every loose puck and in every board battle until the final buzzer sounds, you’ll know you did everything you could to help your team.

Never too high, never too low

Playoff hockey games are like a really cool rollercoaster. Game day brings a unique blend of nerves and excitement that seemingly make some kids bounce off the walls and gives others a pit-like feeling in their stomach. Then, once the puck drops, it’s time for the high speed twists and turns and ups and downs.

Before that rollercoaster takes off this year, remind yourself what Minnesota Wild captain Mikko Koivu mentions in his Players Tribune article about one of the best lessons from his early days in the NHL: never too high, never too low.  

This year’s playoffs will likely feature a few goals against, a bad penalty or two and maybe even a loss. But they will also include amazing goals, great saves and epic comebacks. When plays go against you, do your best to reset and get ready for the next play. If you and your team happen to be on the positive side of a momentum swing, try to keep it going but be prepared for if or when it goes the other way.

Enjoy the moment

Win or lose, playoff hockey will go by fast.

Whether it’s while playing knee hockey in the hotel, eating during a team dinner or simply getting dressed in the locker room, take a moment every now and then to just enjoy the experience.

Everyone wants to win. Everyone wants to play their best. What makes playoff hockey so special though is the journey with your team, with your friends. Take time to soak that in and have some fun along the way. You may be surprised just how much it helps you on the ice.