Preparing for Playoff Games When Your Team is the Clear Underdog

As a hockey coach, facing a superior opponent in the playoffs can feel daunting. They have more skill, depth, and experience—but that doesn’t mean you’re out of the fight. The playoffs are about adjustments, discipline, and execution. Upsets happen because underdogs embrace structure, play with relentless effort, and capitalize on opportunities. Here’s how you can prepare your team to compete and increase your chances of knocking off a stronger opponent.

1. Establish a Clear Identity

Before you even get into game planning, your team must have a clear identity. Are you a hard-checking team? A disciplined defensive unit? A team that thrives on special teams? Against a better opponent, you can’t play an unfocused, run-and-gun style. You need to commit to a system and reinforce it daily.

Find strengths within your roster and emphasize them. If you have mobile defensemen, lean into strong breakout plays and quick puck movement. If you have a physical group, emphasize relentless forechecking and physical play. The playoffs aren’t about reinventing the wheel; they’re about maximizing what you already do well.

2. Create a Tactical Game Plan

A superior opponent usually dictates pace, but you can disrupt their rhythm with smart tactical adjustments.

Neutral Zone Play: The easiest way to slow down a high-powered team is to control the neutral zone. Implement a 1-3-1 or 1-2-2 trap to force turnovers and frustrate their transition game.
Defensive Zone Tightness: Keep defensive coverage tight and protect the slot. Superior teams thrive off high-danger chances—limit their space and force them to shoot from the perimeter.
Puck Management: Every possession matters. Against a better team, turnovers in the neutral zone or on failed clears will cost you. Encourage simple, high-percentage plays: off the glass, chip-and-chase, and hard dumps when necessary.

3. Special Teams Must Be a Difference Maker

If you’re the underdog, special teams can be your great equalizer.

Power Play: Simplify the approach. Don’t overcomplicate passing sequences—move the puck quickly and generate shots with traffic. Focus on net-front presence and creating rebound opportunities.
Penalty Kill: Aggressive pressure on puck carriers can disrupt an elite team’s power play. Stay disciplined in positioning but challenge entries and force hurried decisions.

If your team can win the special teams battle, you give yourself a much better chance at an upset.

4. Manage Matchups and Minutes

You may not have the same depth as your opponent, but you can still be smart about matchups.

Defensive Pairings vs. Top Lines: Identify your best defensive unit and deploy them as often as possible against the other team’s top line.
Line Matching: If you don’t have the last change, use quick shifts to manipulate matchups. Don’t let your weaker lines get stuck against elite scorers.

5. Mental and Emotional Preparation

Superior opponents expect to win. Your job is to plant doubt in their minds by making them uncomfortable.

Confidence and Buy-In: Players must believe in the system. Show them film of previous upsets, highlight the opponent’s weaknesses, and reinforce that execution—not talent alone—wins playoff games.
Handling Adversity: The underdog will face moments of pressure. Prepare your team mentally to stay composed when things don’t go their way.

6. Start Strong and Finish Stronger

In playoff hockey, momentum is everything. A quick start—whether it's a big hit, a solid penalty kill, or an early goal—can set the tone. But upsets happen in the third period, when underdogs outwork tired opponents. Stay disciplined, stick to the system, and don’t let up until the final horn.

By implementing a structured approach, embracing discipline, and playing with relentless intensity, your team can challenge even the toughest opponent and put yourself in a position to pull off a playoff upset.

Ed Garinger is a seasoned hockey coach, mentor, and educator with over two decades of experience. A native of the Bruce Peninsula, he played minor and junior hockey before earning his BA and BEd from Nipissing University, where he also competed in varsity volleyball and extramural hockey.

Coaching since age 14, Ed has balanced his teaching career with an extensive coaching and development portfolio, working with players at all levels. He has coached in the Provincial Junior Hockey League, led youth and high school teams, and served as a learning facilitator for the OMHA. His experience includes elite programs like the OHL/OHF U15 and U16 camps, U17 Regional Camps, and Hockey Canada’s Skills Academy.

A Hockey Canada HP1-certified coach, USA Hockey-certified coach, and Chartered Professional Coach (ChPC), Ed is committed to ongoing professional development and continually seeks to expand his knowledge to better serve players and coaches. Now based in Orillia, he enjoys passing on his passion for hockey to the next generation.