We do about a 20 to 30 minute morning skate to get the blood flowing, keep things sharp.

Once that’s done, I have lunch with the guys then head back home for a bit and get an hour and a half to two hours nap time in.

I do almost the same thing every game day. Get up from my nap, grab a snack, shower and throw on my suit then head to the rink.

The difference today was Keyra was the one having a meltdown for once.

Usually, she’s handling everyone else’s.

I’ve got about 2 and a half hours before the game when I get to the rink.

I tape my sticks from mid-blade to toe. I always put my equipment on from left to right.

We go over video and review the other team’s players and their systems, their tendencies and spend the rest of the time warming up.

When that puck drops, that’s when shit gets real. Hell, it’s real the moment I step into the arena but when you’re watching that face-off happen…raring to go…waiting for the moment that puck hits the ice and play starts…

The only thing going through my mind is what to do next. You’re trying to keep a good mix of making a decision in the moment and staying ahead of the opposing players.

It’s war on this ice. Everyone’s just out here trying to do their best.

All the skating from red line to red line drills, or goal line to goal line.

The practicing my transition skating, pivoting by using my skate edges and transferring my center of gravity.

Making sure I practice crisp passes from the goal line to the winger on the boards or the center, cutting down the circle for support to help the break out.

It’s all for this. For this feeling.

We’re in OT and no one has scored. We’ve got a little over 14 minutes to go.

It’s been fucking grueling but we’re pushing, playing hard as ever because nobody wants to watch the playback and realize they were basically sitting on their asses.

I’ve always been considered a playmaker.

Sometimes I don’t have the best shot, so I need to find something that works for me.

I like passing the puck, I like setting up teammates and it just developed into my game.

In practice, I try to pass from different angles, backhand, forehand, add some sauce. I always just try to work on it.

I like passing with my backhand, and there's a reason for that. Mostly for me, it's just a matter of changing the angle.

A lot of times guys try and take your pass away on your forehand, so if you try and get it on your backhand, it's going to change the angle of the puck and change the angle of where your teammate is.

In fact, it changes the distance, too. Whether it's five inches or four inches, you change the angle by bringing it to your backhand.

I feel comfortable on my backhand, so I like using it.

I've also gotten very comfortable with the stick I use and it helps with my passing. I have a pretty straight curve. There's not much of a curve to it, so I think it helps a little bit.

But with sticks and blades, it's just a matter of getting used to it. 

I'm used to my blade now, I like using it, so for me, my game and my ability to pass- it's perfect.

I try to position myself in the right spots and make nice plays to set up my teammates, but by now it's more of a thing that just comes with regularity.

My vision has always been one of my strengths, too. It's always been a big part of my game.

I have the gift, I guess, to see the ice pretty well and it's nice to have that.

When you’re at ice level, things are really chaotic. Everything’s moving so fast around you. Maybe there’re ruts in the ice. Maybe there’s a defenseman stepping up on you, or you’re getting hacked from behind. You’re looking down at the puck in your periphery. You’re trying to process where your teammates are. And you’re trying to do all this at full-speed.

It makes it a lot easier for my passing, to find seams or to find the open guy.

Lately, that guy has been Leo.

It's nice passing to Leo. Sometimes you get him the puck in a normal spot where maybe other guys wouldn't be able to make too much out of it, but he seems to make stuff happen out of nothing.

I like passing the puck to him, I like looking for him. Leo gets results.

If you play with him, that's what you have to do. You have to get him the puck and you have to understand when he wants the puck and when he doesn't want the puck.

Luckily for us, with 3 minutes left in OT… he wants the puck.

I get down low below the goal line and make a pass Grundel because it’s the only way I can see to get it close to Leo. As soon as the puck is sliding out to Grundel, Leo’s already shifting his hips and going to the spot at the back post, going for the one-timer.

Fucking score.

Everyone immediately rushes Leo, tired but happy and cheering.

That’s why when it goes from celebrating to Leo skating by the Leaf’s bench and two seconds later, they’re shoving and hopping the divider…I don’t question it, I just head into the fray.

This is my team, and you don’t sit on the sidelines for your team.