Making Every Play Count – Playoff Mentality & Performance

Making Every Play Count – Playoff Mentality & Performance

My favorite season is playoff season. It is so unique. I have been fortunate enough to win back to back National Championships as a player, coach in US and Canadian National Championships as a coach, and work with players on the mental side to gear up and be successful in playoffs, across sport and levels from Olympic, professional to high performance youth. I have been brought in to speak to a lot of teams in this seasons, so I thought it would be beneficial to share for those of you who are interested!

Setting the Tone

  • “What’s the difference between a regular-season game and a playoff game?” (Let players respond.)
  • “The playoffs are different because every play, every shift, every second matters. One bad shift can cost the game. One small play—winning a puck battle, blocking a shot, making a smart pass—can be the difference between winning and going home.”

Example:

  • 2019 Stanley Cup Final, Game 7: St. Louis Blues vs. Boston Bruins.
  • “Who remembers that game? The Blues scored first, but it was because Brayden Schenn won a puck battle in the corner and made a small pass to set up the goal. The goal-scorer got the credit, but the real hero was Schenn’s effort.”

👉 Message: Playoff games are won on the little things. Championships are won by players who make every play count.

1. Developing a Playoff Mentality – Mental Performance Under Pressure

  • “What goes through your mind before a big playoff game?”
  • Let them answer, then say:
  • “Some players get nervous. Some overthink. Some get too excited and burn out early. The best players know how to stay mentally sharp, focused, and confident under pressure.”

3 Keys to a Playoff Mindset:

  1. “Next Shift” Mentality – Forget mistakes, focus on what’s next.
  2. Confidence in Preparation – Trust your training and be ready.
  3. Control the Controllables – Effort, attitude, and details win games.

Mental Performance Exercise – Visualization Drill (Interactive)

  • Ask players to close their eyes for 30 seconds.
  • Guide them:
    • “Imagine stepping onto the ice for a playoff game.”
    • “Feel the energy in the arena. See yourself winning a race to the puck, making a great pass, scoring a big goal.”
    • “Feel the confidence in your legs, the power in your stride. You are ready.”
  • Ask: “What did you see? What did it feel like?”

👉 Message: If you see yourself succeeding before the game, you’ll play with more confidence. Champions visualize their success before it happens.

2. Compete for Every Puck – “First to the Puck” Mentality 

  • “If I drop a puck right now, how many of you would battle for it?” (Get hands up.)
  • “That’s the mindset we need—every single shift.”

Example:

  • Think of Jonathan Toews in the 2015 Stanley Cup Final.
  • “He wasn’t the biggest or fastest, but he always won the little puck battles. That’s what playoff hockey is about—winning the small races that add up to big wins.”

3 Competitive Drills to Develop This:

  1. Race-to-the-Puck Drill – Start from a stop and explode to the puck.
  2. Battle Drills – 1-on-1 in the corner. Win the battle, make a play.
  3. Puck Retrieval Challenges – Simulate forechecking pressure, force quick decisions.

👉 Mental Cue: “Every loose puck is mine.”

3. Smart, Fast Decision-Making Under Pressure 

  • “How much time do you think you have to make a play in the playoffs?” (Let them guess.)
  • “Less than a second. If you hesitate, you’re done.”

Example:

  • Watch Connor McDavid. He knows his next move before he even gets the puck. That’s why he’s so dangerous.

Drills to Improve Decision-Making:

  1. One-Touch Passing Drill – Quick passes, no hesitation.
  2. Read & React Drill – Coach yells “pass” or “shoot” last second, forcing quick reactions.
  3. Pressure Breakout Drill – Simulate forecheck pressure, make smart plays under pressure.

👉 Mental Cue: “Know your next play before the puck gets to you.”

4. Relentless Defense & Winning the Hard Areas 

  • “Who here loves blocking shots?” (Wait for response.)
  • “It’s not fun, but it wins games. Just ask the Tampa Bay Lightning—they block 15-20 shots a game in the playoffs.”

Example:

  • Ryan McDonagh, Tampa Bay Lightning.
  • “He’s not the flashiest player, but he wins stick battles, blocks shots, and plays hard defense. That’s why he’s a Stanley Cup champion.”

Drills to Build Tough Defensive Play:

  1. Shot-Blocking Drill – Teach the right technique to absorb impact.
  2. Stick Lift & Takeaway Drill – Work on taking pucks away, not just playing the body.
  3. Defensive Angling Drill – Guide opponents where you want them, don’t chase.

👉 Mental Cue: “If they don’t score, they can’t win.”

5. Clutch Performance – Finishing Plays & Owning the Moment 

  • “Who wants to be the player who scores the game-winning goal?” (Wait for hands.)
  • “To be that guy, you have to be ready to execute when it counts.”

Example:

  • Patrick Kane’s OT goals, Sidney Crosby’s Game 7 performances—big-time players don’t overthink, they execute.

Drills for Clutch Performance:

  1. Quick Release Shooting – Fire the puck without stickhandling.
  2. Rebound Battle Drill – Attack second chances around the net.
  3. Overtime Simulation Scrimmage – Play full-speed, sudden-death overtime situations.

👉 Mental Cue: “I want the puck when it matters.”

Closing – Challenge the Team

  • “The playoffs aren’t about who has the most talent. It’s about who competes the hardest, who wins the small battles, and who makes every play count.”
  • Challenge the players:
    • “Are you going to be the one who wins that loose puck?”
    • “Will you be the one who blocks the shot when the game is on the line?”
    • “Are you going to make every play count?”
  • “Champions are made in the little moments. Go make yours count.”

Final Interactive Exercise – Team Commitment

  • Ask: “Who here commits to making every play count this playoff run?” (Get hands up.)
  • End with a team rally cry or chant!

Summary of Key Takeaways:

✅ Playoff Mindset – Every play matters, visualize success.
✅ First-to-the-Puck Mentality – Win battles, fight for every inch.
✅ Fast Decision-Making – Be one step ahead.
✅ Tough Defense – If they don’t score, they can’t win.
✅ Clutch Performance – Own the moment, finish plays.

Want help for your Playoff Mentality? Contact Barb

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