With the completion of the Penguins-Senators series we got to see one of the great traditions at the end of a long hard fought series – the handshake. Players who were battling and fighting against each other to move on in the playoffs can cast aside hard feelings long enough to offer a sign of respect.
This line is the best feeling in the world when you win and heartbreak when you lose. Looking into the eyes of a competitor after beating them can give you a great feeling of satisfaction and confidence. Of course losing makes it hard to skate down that line. That immediate sense of failure and the season crashing down is tough to put aside as you greet each player. In either situation I made sure to look every single player in the eye and say “good series; good luck.”
There is a motivation I found when starting a series that I like to use. When you go through the opposing lineup and scout the players certain players stand out. There are some players you want to beat because it is a great challenge... And there are others that you think “I can’t wait to shake his hand after I beat him.” And there is no classier way to boast than smiling and shaking their hand and skating off to the next round. Simple and effective...
Tune in to Stretch on Maxim Radio on Sirius Satellite Radio each Wednesday morning at 11am ET for NHL All-Star goalie Ryan Miller's weekly Stanley Cup Playoffs report.
Have a question for Ryan? Post it in the Comments Section below.