The playoffs are a war of attrition where players often play through significant injuries, a fact that is typically revealed only after the season concludes. This culture of playing hurt, involving everything from fractured bones to cracked ribs, is a defining characteristic of the Stanley Cup pursuit.

Impact: High. This underscores the extreme physical and mental demands of playoff hockey, explaining the high rate of injuries and the extraordinary toughness required to compete.

In the source video, this keypoint occurs from 00:58:10 to 00:59:18.

Sources in support: AJ Hawk (Guest/Co-host)