Our outdoor practice and family skate today was even more fun than I expected.
When you walked out from the locker room with all your equipment on, it seemed unique that there was a rink inside of a stadium. Then, once you get out there with your jerseys on and you realize that you're playing in the NHL and you're playing on a rink outside in a football stadium, it was way more than I imagined.
I thought the practice was good. I thought the ice was good. I think we had a really good, focused practice. We got our legs moving and I think we got a feel for what the whole atmosphere will be like.
Once the buzzer sounded to end our practice, it was family time. You saw how many people had their families here for the family skate and just how much we were able to enjoy the whole experience.
My son Luke loves being on the ice and then he screams when you take him off. So, it's something that I know I'll be showing him photos of for a long time. I'll probably put them up in the house somewhere.
Now, we look ahead to the game Saturday. You're either going to go out to dinner with your family or you're going to go back to have dinner and you'll get a good night's sleep.
From then on, it's a normal game day. It's game time.
The game starts at 8 p.m., but it's the same way to prepare. When you get in your hotel room tonight, it will be the same routine, whatever gets you settled mentally and take care of yourself physically.
Then, wake up in the morning and it will be a normal game day.
