As I have gotten older, the hockey seasons have tended to just blend together and disappear.  Gone are the seasons that felt like they were a half a year.  These last 20 games have come and gone like the wind.  Now, with playoffs tomorrow and a long two weeks off after that, my motivation switches from regular season to a strong playoff performance for my two teams.

My beginner team and my intermediate teams both took second place.  I will have as few as two games but as many as four.  If I am a little lucky and my teams can put the puck in the net, then I should be just fine come tomorrow.  As with any one game playoffs I have played in the past, I have learned that anyone can win.  Sometimes you have to be a little lucky and fortunate to advance or win a championship.

In the past, I have always had problems sleeping before playoffs.  That just hasn’t been the case over the course of the last few years.  I find myself looking forward to playing, but not losing sleep over it.  I imagine how everything will turn out in my head, but quickly try to temper my expectations.  Yes, I enjoy the possibility of turning in a great performance, but in recent years I have had a hard time delivering as well.  For as many championships as I have won, I have had my share of disappointments.

Which leads me to the promise I made to myself a few years ago.  I keep telling myself that in the end, it doesn’t matter.  I have won a total of 29 playoff championships in the last 11+ years.  I have always promised myself that if I didn’t win, I wasn’t going to be overly upset.  There are many goalies out there that wish they had their shot at having that kind of success.  While I can be disappointed if things don’t work out in my favor, I am going to not break down and consider what I have done this season a failure.

Here is to hoping that I can bring home #30 tomorrow.