LAS VEGAS -- The next time Golden Knights forward Tomas Hertl is on a heater, compiling points in droves, you better believe his drive to the rink might sound like an episode of "The Voice."
Many NHL players follow certain traditions on gameday, far beyond rubbing a lucky rabbit's foot, and for Hertl, he has a routine he's always followed.
"Over the years, the game day routine is all same," the Czech-born forward said prior to Vegas opening its seven-game series with the Minnesota Wild. "I go to the rink almost same time, eat same breakfast."
For those curious, he likes scrambled eggs with mushrooms, ham and onions. He also enjoys a morning hot tub, his usual stretching and preparation and napping at the same time.
And he always dresses in the same manner, with his left skate, left shinpad, left elbow automatically taking place.
Then there's his trek to the arena.
"It kind of happened during midseason when I started singing the same songs and just singing all the way to the rink in my car," he said. "I was listening to everything, but now, because early in the season it wasn't working for me, I tried Czech music. It's Czech songs and it started working, so I just keep it."
But if his play drops off, his versatile playlist changes.
"I'm the kind of guy who can listen to everything," he added. "Sometimes I like rock, like AC-DC, sometimes I like pop. I can listen to almost everything. I like just the songs I kind of know I can sing along. I have terrible voice. I can't sing, but this I do by myself."
Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said while he doesn't have any special tie or other traditions, he had a song that seemed to work for him in the playoffs. He didn't reveal whether he turned into a crooner and belted out the lyrics, but didn't rule out the possibility of another tune evolving if the Knights make a deep run.
"I think maybe that would happen in the playoffs, right?" said Cassidy, who added he used to do the USA Today crossword puzzle when he had it delivered but doesn't have that any longer. "Something happens to you that seems to work, then you may become a little more superstitious, for lack of a better term."
Defenseman Ben Hutton said he kisses the inside of his jersey upon pulling it on, while goaltender Adin Hill said he just tries to beat Hutton at "Sewer Ball," the soccer game all hockey teams play before games.
Defenseman Kaedan Korczak said he has a couple of things he does regularly, not necessarily as a superstition, but more so as part of his routine.
"I nap at the same time every day, like 2 to 3:30," Korczak said. "That and I always put my left side on first and then my right side."
Scoring leader Pavel Dorofeyev, who's scored a team-high 35 points, says he keeps it simple with the same pre-game meal every time, pasta, alfredo sauce and chicken.
Then there's veterans like Tanner Pearson, Noah Hanifin and Alex Pietrangelo, who go off feel and flow and have followed the same routine for years.
"I was a little bit more (superstitious) when I was younger, but with my life the way it is," Pietrangelo said. "I've kind of had to change my schedule on the fly with a busy household, so I try not to overthink it."
Added Pearson: "Maybe a bit of visualization during the National Anthem."
And finally, with "Original Misfit" Brayden McNabb, other than napping and leaving for the rink around the same time, he's recently started chewing on one specific tradition.
"I have gum at the same time for warm-ups,"
Peppermint, in case you're wondering. Brand unknown.
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