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Have you ever wondered how a player unplugs after a game when the lights go out and the three-hour adrenaline rush stops?
Jared McCann scored nine goals in his first 20 games with the Penguins after they acquired him Feb. 1 from Florida.
He has worked his way onto the No. 1 line and established himself as one of their go-to penalty-killers.
McCann has earned the confidence of the coaching staff to the point that he routinely has played 17-plus minutes per game lately, most in physically and mentally demanding situations.
Considering the effort his role demands, it seems likely that McCann has been sleeping well after games.
Maybe so, but it does not come easily for him on nights when he has played. And it takes a significant chunk of time before he can bother trying.
“From when I get home, probably an hour, hour and a half to wind down and get the heart rate low,” McCann said. “I usually just sit there and watch TV, or get something to eat. It’s definitely tough after games to fall asleep.”
An unscientific survey suggests that most of his teammates experience the same thing, regardless of the niche they fill or the ice time they log. When a player’s adrenaline has been surging for about three hours, there’s no switch that can shut it off the moment the final buzzer sounds.
“I actually have a little trouble falling asleep after games,” blue-collar winger Garrett Wilson said. “I’m usually pretty wired, and it’s tough to lie down. You’re thinking about all the plays that happened in the game, and stuff you could have done differently.”
Guy Boucher, who has coached in Tampa and Ottawa, is credited with popularizing the mantra that “rest is a weapon” during his days behind the Lightning bench. That hardly is a revelation to the people charged with maximizing the productivity of players by, among other things, steering
them toward the right kind of food and suggesting things that can help them shut down after games.
Several players said those recommendations include melatonin, an overthe-counter supplement, and cherry juice. (Montmorency tart cherries are a natural source of melatonin and studies have suggested they can reduce muscle soreness).
McCann added that “calming music” works for him, too.
While some fans — and probably some coaches — might find it tougher to have a restful night at this time of year, given the elevated stakes for so many games, players contend that getting to sleep during the stretch drive and playoffs is no more difficult than it is during the early weeks of a season.
“It’s pretty similar throughout the whole year,” Wilson said. “Some nights are better than others.”
McCann echoed that assessment.
“I don’t think it’s any harder,” he said. “Personally, I take every game seriously, like it’s a playoff game. That’s the mindset we have to have going forward.”
The NHL Players’ Association underscored the importance of rest for its members by negotiating a minimum of four off-days — that means no games, practice or travel — for each team per month. Many clubs, including the Penguins, frequently cancel scheduled workouts, especially late in the season, to limit wear and tear on players.
While sleep is the most obvious way to rest, simply relaxing during time away from the rink has benefits, like allowing players to clear their heads and refocus on the challenges ahead.
“It’s important to get away from it and have your (personal) time,” winger Dominik Simon said.
How they choose to do that varies.
“You just chill at home or watch TV or something,” Simon said. “When you’re there for too long, you try to get outside, walk a little bit or go to dinner with guys. There are a lot of options.”
Including, one would assume, taking a nap.
I’m usually pretty wired, and it’s tough to lie down. You’re thinking about all the plays that happened in the game, and stuff you could have done differently.” — Garrett Wilson