Option 2:

To quote Michael Jordan; "I took that personally." A perfect encapsulation of how athletes are wired to compete in their hyper-masculine, physically driven sports. Someone exceeds your physical prowess? Force a chip onto your shoulder and find hate in your heart towards them. Stoke the fires of hate and craft inspiration from it. That is the blueprint many an athlete follow. Contrary to that expectation, Roger isn't overly driven by competitive spirit. The strides he takes in hockey are purely through the lens of personal growth. For him there is no use in viewing the other team as his enemy--they are very literally his opposition and he will need to get through them to achieve his goals, but the Jordan mindset is anti-thetical to his personality. Manufactured hatred is unnecessary when intrinsic motivation carries the weight.

Murdock utilizes his teammates more in the face of adversity. Not as a crutch as they are more competitive than he is, but in recognition of how not everything is achievable by one man. In facing a larger opponent in a board battle it isn't necessary to outright beat them, but simply to force a tie and allow someone else the opportunity for glory can be the right play. Waltzing through a defensemen's legs and scoring a highlight reel goal is sexy but risky (some would call it risque), why force that play when a teammate can be in a better situation to greater a high danger chance with a simple pass? To go against bigger, meaner, stronger opponents forces Murdock to take hockey for what it is: a team game where assists are the same as goals. It's all in the mindset.