The shell was initially the way CBJ swept us (and to a lesser extent, the way Washington beat us). We couldn't beat em, so we joined em. And we took the most talented team in the league and played a style that was normally used to win cups for less talented teams. And we bulldozed our way to two cups.
I think sometimes we use regular season games like practice for the playoffs. We definitely did that in 2020. We were not a good team as we transitioned to this style of play. But we figured it out. Most teams have learned that the way to win in the playoffs is, on defense, just give up the perimeter and murder anyone who tries to get inside.