NHL players are all about pregame routine, from naps to dog walks or eating the same meal

Before games, Dallas forward Matt Duchene relies on the same, tried-and-true routine. He blocks out a two-hour window for a nap, eats an identical meal — pasta and salmon — and spends time reviewing notes he's made in his journal.

For many NHL players and coaches, little pregame rituals and routines help them slip into the proper frame of mind for the next big game.

These can be sleep- or food-related. Or revolve around how they get dressed for a game. Or the way they warm up.

Be careful, though, not to lump these in with superstitions like Patrick Roy talking to his goalposts or Brendan Shanahan listening to Madonna.

"I have a routine, but I don't think that means you're superstitious," Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson explained. "Lots of guys have routines."

Serve it up

Food seems to be a common theme; many have a go-to menu on game day.

For Vegas forward Pavel Dorofeyev, it's pasta with alfredo sauce and chicken, while Stars forward Mikko Rantanen prefers chicken, pasta and sweet potatoes. Vegas forward Tomas Hertl has the same breakfast every morning — scrambled eggs with mushrooms, ham and onions.

It used to be 13 meatballs with lingonberry sauce and mashed potatoes with gravy for Minnesota Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson. But he's changed it up this season. "Went to a restaurant instead," he said. "It makes it a little easier."

On the ice, Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood follows the same steps before each period. He taps the crossbar, the right post, left post, back to his blade and the crossbar, each pad twice and then his gloves.

"That's just been a game-on, turn-the-engine-on, type thing," said Wedgewood, whose pregame meal is usually chickpea pasta with marinara sauce, two chicken breasts and a bowl of chicken noodle soup. "If I didn't do it, I don't think it would mentally screw me up."

Game days

All routines are subject to change. Unless, of course, it involves how players put on their uniform.

"I always dress (the same) — left skate, left shin pad, left elbow (pad), but I don't even think about it," Hertl said. "I just do it."

Same with Vegas defenseman Ben Hutton: "I kiss the inside of my jersey when I put it on," he said.

One frequent requirement: sneaking in a pregame nap — or at least logging some chill time.

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"I nap around the same time, that's just routine more than ritual. I was a little bit more (superstitious) when I was younger, but with my life the way it is, I've kind of had to change my schedule on the fly with a busy household," said Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, who has four kids, including triplets. "I try not to overthink it."

Following morning home skates, Carolina forward Mark Jankowski typically takes Lucy, his 6-year-old golden retriever, for a stroll.

Then, a pregame meal for Jankowski, followed by slipping on a pair of Normatec boots — compression therapy to enhance circulation. He naps 60 to 90 minutes before taking off for the rink.

Keeping it loose

Washington goaltender Logan Thompson used to have numerous superstitions. It got to the point where, "if I would mess one up or if I would do something wrong, I think it would throw off my whole game," he explained.

"Over the last two years just switched it up of making sure my body feels good and just keeping it loose," he added. "I feel like when you overthink too much, that's when issues happen."

For keeping it loose, he credits "sewer ball," a game played in some corner of a hockey arena all over. Players form a circle and try to keep a ball from hitting the ground. If a player can't, they're out.

As part of his pregame routine, Hertl cranks up the tunes. These days, his playlist is heavy Czech music to set the proper goal-scoring mood.

"I'm the kind of guy who can listen to everything," Hertl said. "I like just the songs I kind of know I can sing along. I have a terrible voice, I can't sing, but this I do by myself."

Other ways that players loosen up for a game: Gustavsson, like many, kicks around a soccer ball. Vegas defenseman Noah Hanifin takes a cold plunge, while teammate Brayden McNabb chomps on gum (peppermint) in warmups.

Players also make sure their equipment is as prepared as they are. Avalanche forward Jonathan Drouin spray-paints the bottom of his sticks. Stars forward Mason Marchment makes sure his stick is stiff and newly taped.

Duchene slightly tweaks his routine depending on if it's a road or home game. On the road, he includes rice with his pasta and salmon. At home, it's salad. He also naps in a hyperbaric chamber before home games.

"As a younger player, I was extremely superstitious, and I hated it," said Duchene, who writes the title of a song — "Jim Bob" by Hardy — on his stick. "I did everything to the minute before a game. I was almost obsessive about it. I got away from it a few years back."

"My biggest thing is you do what you do to get prepared, and then you just throw the gear on and go play," he added. "That's the most pure form of playing hockey. That's how you do it your whole life. You don't need to do 'A-through-Z' to get ready."

PHOTO COLLECTION: Ovechkin chasing down Gretzky