Long before the puck drops, NHL players are already locked into game mode, but it’s not always how fans imagine. From napping windows and specialized meals to stretching in compression boots, NHL player routines are a fascinating mix of science, superstition, and personal comfort.
While some might call them quirks, these routines are critical to how players prepare physically and mentally for high-stakes games.
Game Day Rituals: Food, Naps, and Familiar Patterns
For Matt Duchene of the Dallas Stars, game day starts with a nap, a journal, and a consistent pregame meal: pasta and salmon. It’s not superstition, he says—it’s structure. “I have a routine, but I don’t think that means you’re superstitious,” Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson explained. “Lots of guys have routines.”
Many do rely on food to settle into rhythm. Vegas forward Pavel Dorofeyev eats pasta with Alfredo sauce and chicken. Colorado’s Mikko Rantanen sticks to chicken, pasta, and sweet potatoes. Meanwhile, Filip Gustavsson of the Minnesota Wild once ate 13 meatballs with lingonberry sauce before games but recently simplified it by going out to a restaurant instead.
Goaltender Scott Wedgewood takes things to another level with chickpea pasta, chicken breasts, soup, and a detailed pre-period stick-tapping ritual. “That’s just been a game-on, turn-the-engine-on type thing,” he said.
Off-Ice Habits: Dogs, Music, and Mental Prep
Pre-game naps are nearly sacred in NHL circles. Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, a father of four, still finds time to nap for at least an hour, even if it’s just quiet time. Mark Jankowski of the Hurricanes walks his dog, Lucy, post-skate, followed by a meal, Normatec boot therapy, and a 60-90 minute nap.
For some players, music sets the tone. Vegas forward Tomas Hertl prefers Czech songs he can sing along to—badly, he admits. “I have a terrible voice… but this I do by myself.”
Letting Loose Before the NHL Pressure Builds
Despite the intensity of the sport, NHL player routines often include time to unwind. Washington’s Logan Thompson, once consumed by superstitions like avoiding sidewalk cracks, now focuses on keeping his body loose. He swears by “sewer ball,” a low-stress locker room game that helps players stay relaxed before the storm.
“When you overthink too much, that’s when issues happen,” Thompson said.
From pasta plates to playful games, these behind-the-scenes routines reveal that NHL greatness often begins long before players hit the ice.
Related: 15 NHL Nicknames That Hit Harder Than a Body Check
