Nova celebrates after scoring a natural hatrick early in the first in a regular season game against the Wolfpack.

LA, Cali. - Moore couldn't help but answer happily when asked about the regular season success his team has had in the past couple of seasons.

"Its only regular season. My rookie season I was hyped up but you come to learn you gotta slow down and focus on the playoffs.  Playoff atmosphere is something else and we have to experience that level and get better in those games. "

"We have guys that are very talented and young guys with crazy upside" Moore went on to say after decent win in Calgary, even though they've lost talent since last season. "We have able players that can play within the system, on both sides of the ice defense and offense. "

Moore has been heating up this season and solidified himself as the Chiefs' top defenseman. He shows confidence without too much glare, careful with his words to save himself from backtracking to teams that have won hardware in the past two seasons.

The Chiefs have won 10 of 15 meetings with their division this season. They won despite the criticism of having weak depth defense ( which shows in times). They'll probably let their young and raw prospect Cashimir Stevens complete their remaining back up games against the new division rivals after how things have gone.

The criticism on defense comes on the heels of Minnesota pushing West Kendall to six games in last season's Eastern Conference Finals (and to game seven the season before), a result many within the Chiefs squad refer to as being "a couple defensemen away from a finals appearance," after the Chiefs built a 2 - 1 series lead last ECF then going on to getting exposed for their lack of defensive presence.

The Chiefs have every right to believe they can win a Conference Finals series. Yet they're well aware that means nothing unless they prove it in the postseason.

"I truly believe that we're the toughest opponent for top teams," said winger Bobby Watson, who led the Chiefs with 5 points against the recent game against the conference leading LA Panthers. "We've got to continue playing, trying to be a champion team. They know who they are (LA), they've been leading ther conference for a while now. This is another game for them, but this is a special night for us."

The night started with the Chiefs going down as far as 1-4, then pouncing on a Panthers team that was put to sleep by a come back and game winning goal and 5th point by the heroics of Bobby Watson. Chiefs pressure ballooned to a comeback with a tying goal 13 minutes into the 3rd by Geoff Moore who notched his 3rd point, and the Chiefs sustained a Panthers rally before closing out the game, guided by the steady hands of Poopity Scoop, who finished with 4 points and a season-high 3 assists.

But there was a content mood, not satisfaction, in the visitors' locker room. It has been an average season for the Chiefs, who entered the season with a retool mentality, only see themselves sitting right next to the hottest teams in the league just like the past 2 seasons. What is their move now? Remain in the bubble? Or push forward and add another piece?

Minnesota (19-12-2, second in the West) has too much work left to do to get too excited about a win over the Panthers, even if it was against the best +/- pair in the league Toner and Kosonen. Although the 2nd highest in that category are the Chiefs top defensive line, Moore -Poop, who are having an elite season while their team enjoys success in their debut season in the West.

"I don't want to make a big deal out of it. It's a good win," Chiefs coach said. "We played good. They as well. Then we played better. Especially late in the second to overtime, they weren't able to handle the pressure. They might not have taken us seriously like, 'Oh, we got better support guys and defensemen.' Sometimes you have an upset. There's different factors, but we just focus on the next game and so on."

The Chiefs' success right now means "nothing," Nova stated.

"You bring your 'A' game and get a win the next game or next week or the last week of the regular season, but in the playoffs, it's when you've got to beat a team four out of seven times," Nova said. " its about being prepared for that. It means nothing to get that far then not having what it takes. It's great we won tonight, but you'll forget this night. In a day or two we won't remember."

Doubt is a dream killer