They’ve actually been doing that for a long time.
“It was a long season,” forward Ryan Poehling said after Wednesday night’s 5-1 loss to the Blue Jackets in Columbus. “It’s been ups and downs. Even the first 20-25 games, you’re almost out of the playoffs, so that’s tough on guys. That’s what you’re working for the whole year. So … you’ve got to find it within yourself.
“There’s guys playing for contracts, there’s guys that want to move up in the lineup, there’s so many reasons to play and I think you can’t take that for granted,” Poehling added. “Eight, nine games can change someone’s career. Even as a team aspect, you want to end that season on a high note knowing that what we have when you come back, I know we’re going to be good and you have that to look forward to.”