Randy Carlyle delivered a message to his team, ravaged by injuries, during a trip to Philadelphia only eight games into the season.
The Ducks coach knew then it would be a rocky road to the playoffs, with key players such as Ryan Kesler, Patrick Eaves and Cam Fowler out of the lineup at the beginning of the season.
Many more injuries followed, with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry forced to sit out for extended periods, and John Gibson a frequent name on the injury list.
"Give yourselves a chance and just get in the playoffs," Carlyle recalled Wednesday moments after the Ducks accomplished that goal with a 3-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild to clinch a postseason berth.