SUNRISE, FLA – The Florida Panthers are now on their third straight Stanley Cup final, which means they have played a heckuva lot of hockey in recent years.
The playoffs are a grind, with a lot of travel and not a lot of recovery time.
That's tough for a professional athlete, but what about us old, out-of-shape reporters, who don't get to fly on charters or get many of their meals from elite nutrition experts? How can we make sure we last the entire duration?
"That's a good question," said Sam Bennett. "Definitely get some sunscreen when you're in Florida. Lots of protein, lots of carbs and get as much sleep as possible."
Protein and carbs are not a problem for reporters. In fact, right after Bennett spoke at the Panthers' practice facility, I walked down the street and grabbed lunch at one of my favorite Fort Lauderdale spots (that's how many times I've been here the past three years – I have spots), The Whole Enchilada.
I, of course, had The Whole Enchilada Platter: chicken enchiladas with rice, beans, tortilla chips and full access to the salsa bar. There may have been a cherry Coke as well. Perhaps not the height of nutrition, but the Panthers have famously been making Dairy Queen runs during the post-season, so there must be some wiggle room.
Which brings up another question: how much ice cream can I have?
"A lot," said Jesper Boqvist, though he also pointed out that he has not been part of the DQ runs. "I'm not really a big ice cream guy, so I skipped that. I like cookies."
For others, moderation is key.
"It depends on your level," said Nate Schmidt. "For me, I can eat ice cream every night, but I'll only have a scoop and put the rest back. My wife thinks I'm crazy."
On top of nutrition, rest is always big. Hockey players are famous for naps, and reporters can easily fall into the same mid-afternoon routines when on the road. But there's also the constant travel, which isn't as familiar to all of us.
"Get your sleep when you can – that's a big one," Schmidt said. "I think the biggest thing is making sure you get your electrolytes in, before and after your flight. You can drink as much water as you want, but you need your salts."
Rest is key, but so is relaxation. And the Panthers apparently don't mind if us reporters get some time away from the rink. In fact, they encourage it.
"In Florida here, you can get some sun – we have beautiful beaches," said Anton Lundell. "Go out and get some energy, because there's another game coming."
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