Halloran didn't raise his voice in the locker room between periods, which conveyed to Cole more than any shouting could have — the calm, unwavering confidence of a coach who truly believed that the deficit was manageable, not a crisis to be addressed with volume.
"They are superior to us on paper," Halloran stated, in a straightforward manner. "They have consistently outperformed most teams on paper for the past decade. However, what they have not possessed this year is a defensive line comparable to the one present in this room. Furthermore, they have not encountered a group that has already endured challenges more significant than a one-goal deficit in the second period of a hockey match." He surveyed the room, allowing that statement to resonate. "Go and remind them of the true charact
