During the bus ride back from Rockford, Hoggan said it felt like the team’s character had been tested, and he and other veterans felt the team had come through the experience with flying colors. “Some teams might wilt and fold, but that’s not us. There’s not much another team can do to keep us down. We’ll respond and keep fighting back.” More recently, Hoggan liked what he saw in back-to-back home games against the San Antonio Rampage on Feb. 23-24. The Griffins avenged a 6-3 loss by bouncing back from a 2-0 deficit the following night to win the rematch 7-3. “When you put up 43 shots and generate a lot of scoring chances, only to lose 6-3, you can get frustrated, but we went back to what we know how to do and scored seven goals for the comeback win,” he said. It’s that kind of resiliency that can be the difference in the postseason. “If you lose a game in the playoffs, you have to bounce back quickly,” he said. “If we do lose a couple of games, I think we have enough guys on board that we can right
the ship in a hurry, and that’s key in the playoffs.” There’s a tangible intensity to playoff contests, with almost a nervous excitement at the beginning of a series. “You get over it pretty quickly, whether it takes a shift or a game. It doesn’t take guys very long to get into that playoff mindset,” he said. “As they say, you’re either in or you’re in the way.” Playoff experience is priceless for players who are hoping to build their resumes as they pursue a promotion to the NHL. “It’s definitely good for a player’s development,” he said. Hoggan, who recently celebrated his 35th birthday, said it would be good for the old guys, too. He wouldn’t mind if a couple of Calder Cups served as bookends to his career. “I’m coming closer to the end, so it would definitely be a nice way to go out,” he said.
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