Getting primed for the playoffs.(Straight Shooter)

Some teams already know they're in the playoffs. We've been fighting for our spot. That can be a positive or a negative. We basically have to play playoff hockey now to make sure we'll be in the postseason, and that can work for us.

On a positive side for other teams, if they know where they're going to be seeded in the playoffs, they can rest some players and have a fresh first round. But it doesn't matter if you're in first place or eighth, you have to go into the playoffs playing good hockey, or you're not going to have a chance once you get there. You can't just stumble into the playoffs hoping you're going to win the first round because the hockey is just too hard. You have to make sure your whole team is going as a team.

Preparing for the playoffs is different from preparing for a regular-season game. There's much more analysis. You watch more video on the other team and try to get to know the habits of every player on the other team. In certain ways it makes it easier, but in some ways it makes it harder. If you're playing a good team and you know you don't match up well, it can be difficult. But you try to use any little advantage you can over the course of the series.

Our team's philosophy is to look at everyone and ...