(One step from heaven, a heartbeat from hell)

Nothing feels better than winning a hard fought playoff series. Any victory is sweet, but it's even sweeter, by the time you hit the playoffs, you're deep into a war of attrition with your opponents. If you want to win the game, you must give everything you've got left: physically, mentally and emotionally. It all comes down to one shot at heaven, and the chance of loosing is too painful to contemplate.

I recall last season getting goose bumps as the national anthem is being played everyone is pumped, you can't stop thinking about it all game day, and it's an amazing feeling. If you get through it, you'll never forget it. Some 'Rookies' eat up the pressure and come of age during the playoffs, but not all have such a fortunate experience. Obviously, there is a little hesitation at first, a little bit of not wanting to make a mistake, but if you just go out there with the mindset that you can make a difference every shift. You don't know when there could be a turning point in the game, so you have to be prepared every minute.

Players universally agree that it's important to strike a balance between being 'Eye of the Tiger' in the dressing room before a playoff game. Natural adrenaline and the roar of the crowd will get those legs moving. Sometimes adrenaline is the only resource left to draw on. It's like playing a dream; it's a once in a lifetime event.

Written by George Best - Hockey Legend in Canada!