The playoffs are a mind field. (NHL).

As the playoffs continue, the mind games escalate. Such was the way of the conference semifinals when Flyers coach and master manipulator Ken Hitchcock accused the Senators of being dirty. His team needed an emotional boost, and he gave it to them--complete with a tape of actions he said showed the Senators' evil stick work. Later Hitchcock admitted perhaps it was all a bit contrived, but it worked. His team had new life.

This was a smart and experienced coach at work, but Hitchcock's claims were not the greatest coaching mind trick of the conference semifinals. That came after the Devils finished off the Lightning in the third overtime of Game 5. During his ...