Saturday, May 9, 2009

NHL Playoffs: Is Sleep the Secret to Vancouver’s Success?

The NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers weren’t the only pro sports team getting advice from a sleep doctor this year. Canada’s CBC Sports reports that the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks followed a similar sleep strategy this season.

The results for both teams were positive. The Blazers took a 54-28 record into the
first round of the playoffs. The Canucks finished the regular season 45-27-10. Then they swept the St. Louis Blues out of the playoffs in four games.

The Canucks were 3-0 on the road in the playoffs before losing in Chicago on Thursday. Now their series with the Blackhawks is tied at two games each. Has sleep been their secret weapon this season?

Each player’s sleep was monitored early in the season. Then the team’s sleep doctor made recommendations for flight times, practice times and days off.

The Canucks will try to take the series lead tonight in Vancouver. Then the series will return to Chicago on Monday.


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