How to Stay Mentally Tough and Close Out Victory?
Summary
Games aren’t always pretty. In fact, most wins require teams to grind, battle, and stay
mentally locked in even when things go sideways. By learning how to close out a
victory in hockey, players develop resilience, stay composed during adversity, and find
ways to win even when they’re not at their best.
Throughout your career, did most of your wins come from a perfect, well-executed game plan—or from finding ways to close out a victory in hockey even when things weren’t going smoothly?
The truth is, rarely is a hockey team firing on all cylinders in every phase—offense, defense, and transition play. Some nights the offense can’t generate scoring chances. Other nights, defense or goaltending carries the load. And sometimes, it’s pure hustle and grit that decides the outcome.
Yet many players believe that unless every part of their game is nearly perfect, winning becomes unlikely. Coaches often reinforce that belief by preaching excellence in all three phases—offense, defense, and special teams.
But when players think everything must be perfect to win, the moment adversity shows up—one bad bounce, a missed assignment, or a soft goal—the team panics. A routine mistake feels like a disaster. Players tighten up, communication fades, and hesitation takes over.
In reality, most wins in hockey come from overcoming mistakes, rough stretches, and momentum swings. They come from the ability to close out a victory in hockey with a “Never-Say-Die” mindset.
This mindset is what fuels resilience, bounce-back ability, and the belief that you’re still in the fight—even when the game gets messy.
The Devils’ Mindset: A Real Example of Grinding Out Wins
Early in the 2025–26 NHL season, the New Jersey Devils blew a two-goal lead in the third period against the Washington Capitals. Many teams would crumble after losing momentum like that.
Instead, the Devils dug in, battled, and eventually won 3–2—marking their fifth straight overtime or shootout game. During that stretch, they went 4-0-1, proving their toughness under pressure.
Goaltender Jake Allen, who made 29 saves, emphasized how the team’s mindset allowed them to prevail:
ALLEN:
“The guys stuck together tonight. They showed a lot of discipline, a lot of character, and that’s what we’re going to need moving forward.”
Even without Jack Hughes, their leading scorer, the Devils refused to quit. Head coach Sheldon Keefe highlighted the team’s resilience:
KEEFE:
“We’ve been dealing with injuries and adversity all year and finding ways to get points… The guys just played incredibly hard today.”
Captain Nico Hischier summed it up perfectly:
HISCHIER:
“They had a push and scored on us, but we didn’t break… we battled until the end and got the win somehow.”
This is exactly what it means to close out a victory in hockey—it’s not always pretty, but it’s earned through resilience, grit, and team belief.
Why Grinding Out Wins Builds Confidence
Not every win is a highlight-reel game. Many victories are built on:
- Second efforts
- Broken plays
- Ugly goals
- Winning loose-puck battles
- Staying mentally locked in
There are no style points in hockey. A win is a win—and grinding out tough games builds far more confidence and mental toughness than the rare perfect performance.
That’s why learning to close out a victory in hockey is essential for any competitive player or team.
Below are five proven strategies to help players stay composed, battle through adversity, and give themselves the best chance to win—regardless of how the game starts.
5 Ways to Close out a victory in Hockey
1. Accept the Nature of Competitive Hockey
Momentum swings, mistakes, and rough shifts are inevitable. When players accept adversity as normal, they stay composed rather than rattled.
2. Simplify the Game
Narrow your focus to the next simple action—winning the loose puck, completing the next pass, or finishing your shift strong. Simplicity reduces panic.
3. Manage Emotional Swings
After giving up a goal or making a mistake, reset quickly.
Use strategies like:
- Deep, intentional breaths
- A quick bench huddle
- A verbal cue like “Refocus”
Emotional control keeps the team steady.
4. Win the Effort Battles
When execution is off, effort becomes the great equalizer. Outworking your opponent—on the forecheck, backcheck, or in the corners—can swing a game.
5. Stay Connected After Mistakes
Teams that win stay united. Instead of pointing fingers after a breakdown, lift your teammates up. Strong chemistry fuels resilience.
FAQ – Closing Out Wins in Hockey
Q: Is it normal to win games even when playing poorly?
A: Absolutely. Most wins in hockey involve adversity, mistakes, and momentum swings.
Q: How can I stay composed after giving up a bad goal?
A: Use a quick reset routine—breath, regroup, and refocus on the next shift.
Q: How do great teams finish wins consistently?
A: They stay connected, simplify the game, manage emotions, and win the effort battles.Q: Why is learning to close out a victory in hockey important?
A: Because no team plays perfectly. Developing resilience helps you battle through tough stretches and still find a way to win.
Related Articles on Hockey Mental Game:
- Mentally Tough Hockey Teams Find a Way to Win
- How to Create a Winning Mindset for Hockey
- The Psychology of Winning ‘Must Win’ Games
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Mental Performance Coaching to Improve Hockey Performance
Do you look like a star in practice, but find yourself under-performing in games? If so, you can benefit from mental game coaching for hockey players. In fact many players struggle with the same problem. Do any of these statements sound familiar?
- I’m so frustrated with my hockey performance in games that I feel like giving up!
- I feel like I lose my confidence when I go play in games.
- No matter how hard I practice I can’t seem to get results in competition.
- I wish I could play with the same confidence in games that I have in practice.
- I feel like I play tight, cautious or that I try to not make mistakes in games.
If the above statements sound familiar to you, then you could benefit from mental training for hockey coaching.
Contact Us for Details
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Please contact us today to learn how mental coaching works and to request details and pricing on all mental training programs. Complete the web form below or call us toll-free.
Please provide your name, email, sport and your role below:
Dr. Patrick Cohn helps athletes and teams worldwide from a variety of sport backgrounds improve mental toughness for sports. He’s helped junior to NHL hockey players improve their mental toughness.
As the president and founder of Peak Performance Sports (Orlando, Florida), Dr. Cohn is dedicated to instilling confidence, composure, focus, and teaching powerful mental game skills to help athletes, teams and corporate professionals perform at maximum levels.
Dr. Cohn also teaches sports parents and coaches of young athletes how to help athletes achieve peak performance through sports psychology training. In addition, he teaches his mental game coaching system, the MGCP certification program (Mental Game Coaching Professional) to qualified coaches, trainers, and sports psychology students in training.