'I just like that routine': Why pregame meals are important to Avalanche players

What hockey players choose to eat before games varies but most are quite serious about keeping it the same.

There's something to be said about keeping things routine for NHL players. Whether it's a certain way they stretch on the ice in warm ups or what they eat before the game. 

Each player is different with their game day food but for the most part, the cuisine is the same — protein, carbohydrate and some sort of vegetable. Ryan Johansen, who told The Hockey News' Colleen Flynn that he loves to cook, actually goes out to eat before a matchup.

Johansen said keeping his game days streamlined helps him relax and focus on something other than hockey to get mentally prepared for the game.

"I guess it would be superstitious cause I really like doing it and I'd be a little flustered if I wasn't able to," Johansen said. "I would say more routine, I just like that routine — getting away from the rink on these busy game days and having a little normality for an hour or two." 

Some players help cook or their significant others take care of their nutrition prior to their competition.

"Chickpea pasta, chicken, sweet potato with some olive oil, salad with cucumber with olive oil," Mikko Rantanen said. "Usually when we're on the road, we obviously get one but at home, girlfriend or myself cook it." 

Bowen Byram and Rantanen have very similar pregame meals, which was a bit of a surprise to the defenseman.

"I usually have chicken with chickpea pasta with pesto sauce, and then sweet potato, broccoli and salad," Byram told Flynn. "My girlfriend usually cooks it for me."

It depends on where Ross Colton is for his pregame meal. When he's on the road he switches it up to salmon but at home, he sticks with chicken. 

"I usually have my girlfriend start kind of preparing everything for me and then when I get home, I kind of help her out and it just takes not as much time so it's nice," Colton said. 

Consistency is key in the game and before the game. So when something works for a player, they stick with it. It's imperative for their structure, just as it is on the ice.