This is the time that counts -- you can really set yourself up. This is when you see teams start to pull away. But you've got to push through a lot of things. But a lot of times, when you play a lot, you can get into a groove. You play so much, the good things carry over. That's the positive aspect of it.

That's old-time hockey right there and that's going to be a highlight for a while.

Old times. Just messing around. I think he was a little upset so I had to try to put a smile on his face.

It went quick, it was like a wedding day. It just blew by.

With the year off and just getting back into it, you're more susceptible, your body's not as hard as it usually is. You got to develop some of those calluses again, that pain tolerance. But everybody's got to go through it. It happens. For me, it's inevitable -- it's just the way that I play -- that I'm going to get banged up.

It's not like a lull. It's just the way the game is. You're not going to win every game and have a little letdown but the difference between good teams and bad teams is how quickly you get out of it, how quickly you regroup and realize you're in a slide and get back on the ball before it goes on.