Editor Note: This piece was transcribed by Ryan McKenna.

My legs felt unbelievable.

That’s one of the aspects I remember from Game 5 of the Western Conference final in last year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs. We had just beat the San Jose Sharks at home in St. Louis two days before and hopped on a four-hour flight the next day. There was also the two-hour time change we had to deal with. 

Not only that, but Game 5 was scheduled for noon local time. It was a quick turnaround and winning that game with a chance to punch our ticket to the final at home was big.

Somehow, I was flying out there on the ice despite it all. You would think it would be the other way, but I ended up scoring a hat trick – my second of the post-season – and back to St. Louis we went.

We already had a good team before the 2018-19 season. After having just missed out on the playoffs a few months before, we were hungry. The team was pretty happy with the additions of some pretty good players in the likes of Ryan O’Reilly and Pat Maroon. We knew we had a deep team.

We were feeling solid entering the season. 

But then we got off to a really bad start.

In mid-November, we changed coaches after sitting at the bottom of the Central Division. Sometimes when you get new pieces on your team, the chemistry doesn’t click right away. Guys are finding different roles and we just couldn’t get it going.

It was tough. There was a lot of hard days going to the rink, especially when your expectations are pretty high as a team. 

Three weeks after Craig Berube took over behind the bench, we called up top prospect Jordan Binnington – an amazing goalie who had an unbelievable run for us.

We went on a roll from there.

For me personally, I was going through my worst regular season in what was my seventh full year. I was struggling just like everyone else on the team, was trying to find my place adjusting to a new role with new players, and my confidence waned. When things aren’t going well, you think a little bit too much.. That was probably the hardest stretch I’ve had.

I hurt my hand in November and was a bit behind the eight ball because of that. When I came back, I wasn’t 100 per cent, which was another reason why it wasn’t going well.

And then there was the losing. I haven’t been a part of too many losing teams since I came into the NHL with St. Louis. Losing was new to me.

In January, we started to click. 

I can’t remember the teams we beat as we went on an 11-game winning streak, but our confidence started to rise one game at a time. It was a combination of a lot of things as to why we started to get on a roll. The coaching staff brought in a different mindset, attitude and energy. And then the chemistry started to go, too, along with our belief. 

Being in last place to start the year, we were playing meaningful games right up until the playoffs. We had a lot of adversity in the early going of the season. But our confidence built and made us hungrier going into the post-season. There was a lot of dark days earlier in the season and it wasn’t a lot of fun going to the rink. 

We didn’t want that feeling again.

There was a few upsets in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and a lot of the top teams got knocked out. I think seeing that helped us believe a little bit more. We had a special feeling in the post-season with the way we were playing along with how Binnington was playing. Everything was gelling. 

I remember Game 6 of the first round against Winnipeg pretty well. We didn’t want to go back home for Game 7. I scored on either my first or second shift before adding two more for a hat trick.

When I look back on June 12, 2019 – Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final in Boston – I was excited and our team felt pretty good about it. I wasn’t nervous and just tried to stay in the moment as much as possible. When Schenn scored the third goal to go up 3-0, it was a pretty good feeling. 

It’s pretty crazy how the whole season worked out and hoisting the Stanley Cup was a dream come true. To win a Cup for a city that's never won was pretty special.

Looking back now, over a year since it happened, it’s pretty fun to think about and reminisce about how much fun that was.

Fast forward to now and it’s a completely different situation for everyone – not only in hockey, but in the world. COVID-19 has been a hard experience for everyone. I tried to stay busy as the world got locked down and stay ready for if, and when, the season would resume. I watched a bit of golf and certainly noticed how different it was watching with no fans. 

As we gear up for the NHL season to restart, nobody even knows what to expect going forward. We’re no different from everyone else and the pandemic has affected our lives. These playoffs are going to be a new experience for everyone.

I haven’t played without fans for a very long time. That first game back playing with nobody in the stands is going to be weird. And then living in a hotel, being in a hub city – it’s all going to be new for us. 

But we have a chance to win it again. Everyone is excited at the opportunity. 

I would just say the word is different. This year’s playoffs are going to be a lot different than last year going into Winnipeg or Boston and having to steal a game on the road in front of fans. Everyone is in the same boat. 

This post-season isn’t something any of us thought would even be a possibility. We just have to roll with it and not think about it too much. 

It will be a different experience. 

We’re just excited to be playing again.