Why you need to stop saying Brent Burns and Joe Thornton have 'playoff beards'

Hockey is a sport with countless superstitions. From lucky socks to the same pre-game meals, players and fans alike try and stick to a repeatable routine in hopes that it will bring good luck. 

One of the most widely known traditions is the growing of a playoff beard. A player will start with a clean shave at the beginning of their team's playoff run, and will continue to grow their beard until their team is eliminated. 

People all over Twitter have been giving praise to Brent Burns and Joe Thornton for their bushy facial masterpieces like this:

I'm sorry to rain on your parade, but Burns and Thornton's beards are NOT playoff beards. They have been actively growing these since the start of the season, making them just regular beards! 

Don't believe me? Here's a month-by-month timeline of the process. 

October 2015:

November 2015:

December 2015:

January 2016:

February 2016:

March: 2016

April 2016:

May 2016:

See, seeeeeeee, SEE! Technically, they just have beards and happen to be in the playoffs.