Also known as sewer ball or two-touch, players kick around a soccer ball and try to avoid being the last person to touch the ball before it hits the ground. Kirill Kaprizov, Mats Zuccarello and Marcus Johansson are considered some of the best players on the Wild, and joining the game means learning the rivalries.

"There are some battles that go on that guys go at each other," Matt Boldy said. "Maybe you kick it a little harder, try to get someone out."

Once it's time to take to the ice, players file into a line that always begins with the starting goaltender and ends with the backup.

In between, the order can fluctuate based on injury and other absences, but there are some consistencies: Joel Eriksson Ek is second, and Kaprizov is always among the last to emerge. Khusnutdinov has slotted in about two-thirds through the line.

Even warmups follow the same script, with players skating and puck-handling around their half of the rink before three-line shooting, more shots from around the circles, line rushes, individual shots, the last puck drill and more skating. (This is different from what teams do in Europe.)

As for after games, players work out before leaving the arena.

They'll bike and lift weights; if they're playing a back-to-back, they'll do only a quick bike ride.

Jerseys aren't the only uniform players have; a suit and tie are required to and from games.

When the Wild are at home, they can wear casual clothes to morning skates and practices. But when they're on the road, their wardrobe is more formal; a collared shirt and slacks or khakis (no jeans) are a must for morning skate, while practice is business casual.

That's also the protocol for the team plane.

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