Mental Fatigue- Excuse
Success can be a double-edged sword in sports.
With success comes higher expectations, and with higher expectations comes pressure.
This snowball effect is something that all New York athletes must be able to navigate to be successful.
In the past two years, the expectations for the New York Rangers have skyrocketed to almost New York Yankee proportions.
This “championship or bust” mentality can be a good thing in the playoffs, but this must seem daunting in October.
Especially after losing a Stanley Cup Final and two Eastern Conference Finals in four years, thoughts of “can we really do this” are only human.
While a lot of playoff hockey is no excuse for physical fatigue, the lack of success must take its toll on a player’s psyche.
