Boston Herald October 23, 2011

Flames center Olli Jokinen was off to a good start with five points in his first six games and looking more like the player who was good for 30 goals and 80 points earlier in his career. He had a miserable start last season and finished with 17 goals and 54 points.

The difference, he says, is more mental than physical. The 32-year-old has been preparing for every game by speaking to his psychologist and concentrating on three aspects. He also has been trying to approach every game as if it could be his last one, which has helped motivate him.

"It helps me relax, helps me prepare for the games, so it’s been good," Jokinen said. "In this league everybody’s big, everybody’s strong enough, everybody can skate, everybody can score. I think what difference makes a top player is mental preparation. If your head is not there, it’s tough to play."

Calgary Herald – October 20, 2011

Jokinen calls a sports psychologist every game day and discusses, for 15 to 20 minutes, what he says are usually three things to focus upon in that game.

“It helps me relax, helps me prepare for the games, so it’s been good,” he said. “If you look at all the top athletes in any sport . . . in this league everybody’s big, everybody’s strong enough, everybody can skate, everybody can score, but I think what difference makes a top player is mental preparation.

“If your head is not there it’s tough to play.”

Vancouver Sun – October 24, 2011

"I'm pretty confident goals will come if I keep playing like this," Jokinen said. "My goal is to get five-plus shots every game. Overall, with the stats in my career, I pretty much need 10 shots to score one goal."

Jokinen has broken the math down with his sports psychologist

"My goal is to go into games thinking process," he said. "Get those five shots a game. At the end of the year, when you look at the stats, it's going to be 30-plus goals."

Toronto Sun – October 20, 2011

The 32-year-old Finn has been one of the most impressive Flames so far, earning a point in every game to start the year. He brings his five-game point streak to the table against the New York Rangers Thursday night (7:30 p.m., TSN) at the Saddledome.

Growing seems to be his theme these days.

He knows himself better as a person, seems more appreciative about his lot in life, and works hard to maintain a more positive state of mind.

“I think it’s a mental mindset,” he said of his transformation from an offensive-minded but inconsistent scorer to a player who takes pride in shutting down the oppositions’ top lines and taking advantage of the scoring opportunities he does get.

With the help of a mental coach, Jokinen has become a creature of habit.

“I have a guy I call every game day. We do imagery, we go over who we play against and usually try to focus on that night,” Jokinen said.

“It helps me relax and helps me prepare for the game. It’s been good.”

Starting the practice of mental preparation two summers ago — when he surprisingly re-signed with the Flames as an unrestricted free agent for two more years at $3 million per season — Jokinen is practically zen-like these days.

Somehow, a defensive approach is helping him become a more dominant offensive weapon.

Along with his mental approach.