from Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review,

Brandon Sutter thought for a second, rubbed his chin and answered a question with a question.

“I wonder,” Sutter said, “what are other professional athletes' routines like?”

Nothing like hockey players', to be sure.

In addition to the preseason, they play 82 regular-season games and as many as 28 in the playoffs. Preferences are determined. Quirks are accounted for. Differences, when considered within the context of an NHL roster, are bound to happen.

As a result, the 2 1⁄2 hours a night spent on the ice often are less interesting than the time spent off.

There's the morning skate. The pregame meal. The afternoon nap. The smelling salts. The soccer kickaroud. The wind-down.

Here's what it's really like to play in the NHL.

THE MORNING

Maxim Lapierre likes to be early. More than two hours early. For a 10:30 a.m. morning skate, he likes to be at Consol Energy Center by 8:15.

“Relax. Take a hot tub. Have breakfast. Talk to the boys,” Lapierre said. “I like being at the rink. I'm always the first one.”

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