"What we've talked a lot about, right from the beginning of our training camp here in Bakersfield, is that winning is a skill," Woodcroft, sitting on a stool in Rabobank Arena while his players practiced behind him, said.
"It's a skill that's just as important as skating or passing or shooting. It's one that we want to develop in our young players in the American Hockey League."
Woodcroft's philosophy is embodying a life of its own, with the club's 13-game win streak serving as living proof.
"Over this last little stretch that we've been on here, our guys have found ways to win games in different types of fashions," Woodcroft said. "Sometimes it's been our power play, sometimes it's been our penalty kill, sometimes it's been our goaltending.
"But most of all, what sticks out is the work ethic and determination of our players."
On Friday, with their 10-game win streak on the line against the Pacific Division-leading San Jose Barracuda, it was a concerted effort on the defensive side of the puck that paved the way offensively for the Condors. The club was down by one in the first period and kept their deficit from growing by backchecking hard, playing sound in the D-zone and helping out netminder Shane Starrett.
By preventing the Barracuda from extending their lead in the first, Bakersfield was able to take control in the second period - where the Condors have dominated all season long. The home side tied the game early in the middle stanza then added two more to take the 3-1 lead, keeping the Barracuda at bay in the final 20.
No back-to-back would prevent the Condors from coming out flying on Saturday. With a new franchise record winning streak up for the taking, the Condors, once again, displayed the mantra they've been taught over the course of the season and gutted out their second win in as many nights, thanks to another 20-minutes of dominance in the second period.
The Condors scored five middle-frame markers - two at even strength, one on the power play and two shorthanded - downing the visiting Gulls 7-1.