SAN JOSE, Calif. — In the book of hockey cliches, one of the most popular among players this time of the year is some variation of the phrase “flip the switch.”
It’s almost always delivered in the context of something to stay away from, too. As in, “you don’t want to have to flip a switch” entering the playoffs.
“You try to avoid any bad habits, that’s what it is,” Golden Knights defenseman Nate Schmidt said. “You just don’t want to develop anything that you don’t want to be bringing into the postseason.”
Despite their wishes, the Knights are going to have to flip a switch … or turn it on, or pick it up — however they want to say it — as they begin defense of their Western Conference championship against the San Jose Sharks.