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Relaxation will be detrimental to the well being of a hockey crew.
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The Ottawa Cost is a chief instance.
Earlier than a soothing bye week, from Feb. 28 till Mar. 6, the Cost was trying good.
It had picked up at the least some extent in 5 consecutive video games. When the crew arrived in Raleigh, N.C., for a “Takeover Tour” showdown with Minnesota, it was a regulation time win from sitting in a playoff spot.
On its first recreation again from the enjoyable break, Ottawa’s efficiency was sickly in a 5-0 loss to the Frost.
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Now, with the Frost additionally defeating the Toronto Sceptres on Sunday, Ottawa is eight factors from the ultimate post-season reservation with simply 9 video games left — beginning with a tilt at TD Place on Tuesday at 7 p.m. towards that exact same Minnesota squad.
For its fading possibilities, it’s nearly crucial the Cost bounce again with a three-point victory.
“We had every week off and one observe,” coach Carla MacLeod stated Monday when requested why her crew was flat in Raleigh. “On the finish of the day, the truth is the truth. However some variables made it more difficult.
“Each crew’s coming off a break sooner or later, although, so you have got to have the ability to handle it. On the finish of the day, that recreation was that recreation, however the 5 previous to that’s extra true to who we’re.”
Ahead Emily Clark, the crew’s finest participant this season, admitted the “necessary” time without work earlier than final Friday’s recreation did the Cost no favours.
“In fact it’s difficult, however we didn’t need to make any excuses,” Clark stated of leaping proper into a giant recreation following a bye. “I believe you possibly can inform we had been a bit disconnected, and given the circumstances, it made sense.
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“It’s been good to be again in Ottawa for a few days now and positively gearing up for this recreation Tuesday.”
The Cost is aware of it may well beat the Frost, who took possession of the Walter Cup final yr by successful the PWHL championship.
On Feb. 13, Ottawa set a league report for many targets in a recreation by thrashing Minnesota 8-3 at TD Place.
That end result certainly served as gas for the Frost, responding with a five-goal win in Raleigh.
“I believe a giant half in any league, in any season, is that psychological aspect of it, that psychological warfare, or no matter you need to name it,” stated Clark. “We needed to know that they had been going to have a little bit of a chip on their shoulder due to the final recreation.
“I believe it’s essential to have a great reminiscence on this league when you should utilize it to be just right for you. Clearly we’re motivated to have a fantastic recreation towards them Tuesday. They’re positively simple to rise up for.”
Whether or not Ottawa beats or bows to the Frost once more, it could be no shock to see the crew make a transfer earlier than Thursday’s commerce deadline.
Solely 5 trades have been consummated in league historical past, and Cost GM Michael Hirshfeld has pulled the set off on three of them.
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In any occasion, the Cost nonetheless feels assured that it may well accomplish one thing within the last few weeks that it did not do final yr by making the playoffs.
“There’s nonetheless a 3rd of the season right here that we’re embarking upon,” stated MacLeod. “We definitely know the place we sit. We all know we’ve acquired some work in entrance of us, however we’re positively excited and assured about what we’re doing, how we’re doing it, and the place we’re going.
“Clearly we have to put within the work, we have to get the outcomes. It’s not misplaced on us. We’re all good individuals on this group, however we additionally acknowledge there’s hockey available right here. We’ve seen in 10-game segments how a lot motion can occur within the standings. So it’s simply on us to verify we take management of what variables we will handle and management and go do our jobs.”
Stated Clark: “I believe there’s a way of confidence however urgency in our group. We clearly know what occurred final season, we all know the character of this league that it may well actually come right down to the final recreation. You don’t need to look that far forward and also you need to handle every recreation because it comes. However in case you have urgency, the extra factors you may financial institution ahead of later, the higher. We’re going into each recreation wanting all three factors.”
The truth that the league awards three factors for a regulation-time victory does make the duty appear much less insurmountable.
“You may’t take a look at it as that large hole,” stated Clark. “Six factors, eight factors, 9 factors is an efficient week on this league. You positively can’t get discouraged. You may’t take a look at it as this unattainable hill in entrance of you.
“It’s simply taking it one recreation at a time and understanding that now we have our future in our personal fingers. However we’ve acquired to take management.”
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