NHL players are all about pregame routine

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

Like many NHL players and coaches, Duchene is a creature of habit. Little pregame rituals and routines help them slip into the proper frame of mind for the next big game.

These familiar patterns can be sleep- or food-related. Or revolve around how they get dressed f...