The Chicago Blackhawks sit at 1-3 and face a tough road trip. They need to stop a slide that started on the ice. Connor Bedard is out with a shoulder injury, per ABC7 Chicago. The team must find a way to win without their star. Young players like Oliver Moore are stepping up to lead the group.
A Video Changes the Mindset
Moore watched a video on Sunday to calm his mind after a hard trip. He saw Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla talk about losing. The message stuck with the 21-year-old forward from Minnesota. “He was talking about [how] when you’re losing, you’re not a loser,” Moore said, according to reports.
That simple idea hits hard for a team in its rebuilding years. The Blackhawks have spent years at the bottom of the standings. They filled their roster with young talent to fix that. Now they must learn how to handle the bad days. “We’re not identified by our losses; we’re identified by our process,” Moore said, per reports.
The team finally won a game on Tuesday night. That win gives them a small boost. But the season is long. They have 80 games left to figure things out, according to reports. This is the time to build good habits.
Focus on the Process, Not the Score
Moore knows that winning or losing changes how people act. “The challenge is, if you lose a game, coming in and acting the same way, being the same person,” Moore said, per reports. He also noted that the challenge is the same when they win. “And if you’re winning, [the challenge is] the same,” Moore said.
This is the key for a young squad. They cannot let a bad game ruin their confidence. They need to keep working on their skills every day. “You always want to identify how you can get better, no matter what,” Moore said, according to reports.
The team has time to make this work. “And we have time to do that now,” Moore said, per reports. This is not a sprint. It is a long race to become a better team. They need to trust the work they do in practice.
Building a Better Future
The Blackhawks have almost turned their whole team over to youth. These players are at an age where they can grow fast. They have the talent to reach the top. But they need the right mindset to get there. “We’re here to get better, and we’re here to stay motivated,” Moore said, according to reports.
Moore also reminded everyone that the season is short. “You only get a chance to do this for so long, and you better enjoy it,” he said. This is a rare time for these young stars. They should not waste it by worrying about the past.
The next game is against the New York Islanders. The team must keep their heads up. They know the path to success is not easy. “You remember that it’s never going to be easy,” Moore said, per reports. But they have the tools to succeed if they stay focused.
