Connor Clifton Looking To Regain Magic Of 2019 Playoffs

Connor Clifton had only played in 19 games for the Boston Bruins during the 2018-19 season. He played in 18 during the club’s run to the Stanley Cup Final. During that magical run, Clifton would score the first two goals of his NHL career, and won the hearts of Bruins fans in the process.

The 2019-20 season saw a more regular role for Clifton, who appeared in 31 games for the club. Injury in December derailed his season, however, and Clifton only suited up in a single NHL game in 2020. For the second year in a row, he enters the postseason on the outside looking in.

It’s a familiar spot for Clifton, one he knows how to navigate.

“Definitely, I feel good,” Connor Clifton told reporters Thursday. “Right now I’m just trying to get better each day and I’m trying to control what I can control, like my mentality, how I prepare for each practice, and I’m just gonna keep going with that.”

Even though he played in a career-high 31 NHL games, Clifton’s season was up and down. He sustained an injury in late December, and was in and out of the lineup early in the season.

“Yeah, definitely looking back on the season, obviously it was a long time ago, but I feel like I had a tough time finding my confidence. Especially early on,” Clifton continued. “Obviously, quarantine hit and yeah, I’m on the outside looking in right now but a lot happens in playoffs and I’m gonna be ready to go when called upon.”

If called upon, Clifton has both the experience and mindset to excel, to regain the magic of 2019.