"Play every game as if it is your last one"
About this Quote
Lafleur’s context matters. He wasn’t just any NHL star; he was the face of a Montreal Canadiens dynasty in the 1970s, performing under a microscope of expectation where artistry and results were both demanded. In that environment, “last game” isn’t melodrama. It’s a useful mental trick for surviving the grind: collapsing the season into a single night so you can’t hide behind tomorrow’s chances, or let the schedule dull the stakes.
There’s also a quiet rebuke embedded here to coasting, to playing safe for stats, contracts, or reputation. “Last one” implies risk: finishing checks, taking the shot, skating like you mean it. It’s a philosophy of presence that doubles as legacy management. If the end could arrive anytime, you want your default setting to be full-speed, not careful. In Lafleur’s world, that’s how highlights happen, but it’s also how respect is earned.
Quote Details
| Topic | Sports |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Lafleur, Guy. (2026, January 17). Play every game as if it is your last one. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/play-every-game-as-if-it-is-your-last-one-62655/
Chicago Style
Lafleur, Guy. "Play every game as if it is your last one." FixQuotes. January 17, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/play-every-game-as-if-it-is-your-last-one-62655/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"Play every game as if it is your last one." FixQuotes, 17 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/play-every-game-as-if-it-is-your-last-one-62655/. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.









