After the grind of a long regular season, the playoffs begin. It’s a whole new chapter, season and beast. Once the postseason hits, every little advantage you can get over your opponent matters. The intensity, physicality, and pace all ramp up. The margin for error shrinks. Here’s how I approach the second season, and the differences I’ve encountered throughout my career.
RECOVERY – The key to peak performance
How you recover and treat your body after a physically taxing game can be the difference maker. It gives you that extra bit of energy to catch that guy on the backcheck, beat that defender wide, and finish strong when others are running on empty. This is amplified when you are playing every other night, even back-to-back in some cases.
After each game, an ice bath should be mandatory. The cold helps to reduce inflammation, flush out lactic acid, and keeps your muscles from tightening up and feeling heavy the following day. In the moment the cold can be tough, but that feeling is more than worth it for the benefits it provides.
Once you are out of the tub, static stretching is always a great second step in the recovery process. This will help loosen up the muscles you just shocked. ‘Legs on the wall’ is always a great option too. This will help flush out your muscles and improve circulation in your lower body. As seen on NHL broadcasts, the stationary bike can also be very beneficial. It is a go-to for many professional, junior, and collegiate hockey players out there who are looking to recover.
Nutrition is also a key part of recovery. After games, try to get a meal in you that is rich in carbs and protein. Pair that dish with a glass of water.
THE MENTAL GAME
The playoffs are full of ups and downs. Shift to shift, period to period, every play is magnified. The hardest part of this is staying level-headed. This, of course, isn’t an easy task, as it can be an emotional rollercoaster.
This means you need to try not to let the highs get too high, and the lows get too low. Instead of focusing on a past mistake, stay in the moment. Keep your focus on the present, because anything can change at any moment. A single shift or play can swing the momentum.
YOUR GAME
The playoffs are all about executing a game plan. They test a team and players’ ability to perform consistently under pressure. As a player, you need to find your role and execute it. You see it all the time in the NHL – certain players will strictly dump and chase, play physical, and shut down the other team’s top lines. There is less room for individual heroics or fancy plays. In this high pressure environment, you need to focus on the simple things – the fundamentals. Often, it comes down to the team that makes the least amount of mistakes that wins.
Another helpful tactic for performing well in the playoffs is studying. Oftentimes you will be facing the same few players on the other team throughout the series. Watching film and doing research to find the opposing players’ tendencies can give you a huge advantage.
By Ryan Cooper
Ryan Cooper is a forward for the OJHL’s Niagara Falls Canucks. His four years of junior hockey experience have seen him trek from Utah to British Columbia and back to Ontario where he resides.