Best Way to Win Games

What’s the best way to win a hockey game?

Ask ten coaches that question, and you’ll hear answers like:

“Score more goals than your opponent.”

“Special teams.”

“Great goaltending.”

“No turnovers.”

“Aggressive forechecking, tight defense.”

All important, no doubt.

But they’re not the MAIN difference between winning and losing.

So what is?

Having your best players healthy and in the lineup.

History is full of examples of this…

The Buffalo Sabres looked a strong candidate to win the Cup in 2006.

But then they had to play the Eastern Conference Finals with four of their top defenders – Teppo Numminen, Dmitri Kalinin, Jay McKee and Henrik Tallinder – on the injured list.

The Carolina Hurricanes plowed through the injury-ridden Sabres in Game 7.

And went on to hoist the Cup that summer.

9 straight wins to kick off the 2015-2016 season, and Canadiens fans were already planning the club’s 25th Stanley Cup parade along the usual route in downtown Montreal.

Then Carey Price suffered a lower body injury in November, sat on the shelf the rest of the season and the Canadiens missed the last playoff spot in East by 11 points.

At the apex of his career, Sidney Crosby dominated the first half of the 2010-2011 campaign and was on pace to score 132 points that season.

Then he suffered two concussions in back-to-back games, which left him sidelined close to a year.

The high flying Penguins transformed from a Cup contender to a first round exit the moment Dave Steckel’s shoulder connected with Crosby’s head in the final minutes of the 2011 Winter Classic.

Sure, not every injury that occurs in hockey can be prevented.

But it’d be foolish to overlook the importance of doing everything you can to keep guys healthy.

One silly injury to your starting goaltender, #1 center or top offensive D-man could mean the difference between winning and losing.

Especially in the playoffs.

For a great resource that keeps your best players healthy and playing at the top of their game, go to:

http://www.NextLevelHockeyTraining.com

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Yunus Barisik

Yunus Barisik, CSCS, specializes in making hockey players strong, fast and explosive. He has trained 500+ hockey players at the junior, college and pro levels, including NHL Draft picks and World Champions. An accomplished author, Yunus has had articles published on top fitness and performance sites, including T Nation, STACK and Muscle & Strength. He also wrote Next Level Hockey Training, a comprehensive resource for ice hockey players on building athletic strength, size and power, while staying injury-free.