The Columbus Blue Jackets are preparing for their playoff series against the Washington Capitals, something that defenseman Ian Cole has become accustomed to. Not many players on the Blue Jackets can boast that kind of experience.
His pedigree will go a long way if the Blue Jackets are to make a deep run in the postseason.
"I think every play you make has that much more weight on it," Cole said of the difference between the regular season and postseason. "Every puck out of your zone, every puck into the other team zone, every battle on the wall, every box out net front...everything matters that much more."
While many players on the Blue Jackets have played in the postseason before, success has been hard to come by. It adds another layer to the series, as both teams have relatively little postseason triumphs under their belt.
"Just because you're down in a series doesn't mean you can't come back and win," said Cole. "Like you saw this past month, we can string wins together with the best of them."
It isn't necessarily about experience, though, as everyone works together for the same common goal. According to Cole, it's about recognizing what a teammate wants and needs, making sure that they succeed together as a team.
"We're all trying to get to the same spot; we're all trying to win hockey games," Cole said. "If your (teammates) see something or want to change something or even a little tweak here or there, let's talk about it as a team and we'll get it done."
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