Pre-game preparation

Last week I got an e-mail from a opposing team leader asking me if I'd like to sub for them in an exhibition game on Sunday(last Sunday to be clear). At first I said no, since I figured I was done for the season. But then again, how could I say no to a last shot of hitting the ice before summer break? So after some thinking, I said yes.

Since I was subbing for the team that allowed most goals in the league this season, my predictions of the game was that I was probably going to see a lots of shot and not getting much help from my defense. So I did little to prepare myself for this game. I just wanted to go out and have fun. The only thing I did was to sharpen my skates and stretch a little on the same day the game was.
Since the game was at 19:00, I spend the day doing some errands, without any thoughts of the game what so ever.
I started thinking about the game only about an hour before face-off when my teammate picked me up in front of the house. I felt pretty relaxed before but had enough focus as I still am the type who always want to do a good job, no matter who I play for.

The game didn't start well. I think allowed three goals on the first five-six shots I faced but I was pretty much left alone on all of them so I let them go pretty fast. And then I just shut the other team. Well, almost. I allowed a goal early in the second, but held the fort for the next 30 minutes(we played 35 minute periods with rolling time).
and stopped four straight penalty shots(there were penalty shots instead of penalties). I stepped into the zone and stayed there. It was an awesome feeling. We won that game 10-5 and I was named the first star.

Of course, five goals against isn't what you call good perhaps but I didn't care. It was how I felt during and after the game that mattered. I felt like this game helped me a bit of solving my pre-game puzzle. I've been trying different approaches now with various results and have come to the conclusion that all-day pre-game focus is out of the question from now on.

For those who haven't read my first post in this blog, I wrote about draining myself mentally before a big game by spending the entire day focusing on it and ended up playing terrible in a time where the team needed me the most. I was exhausted by the time game started and "wasn't there". Before this game, I was alert and felt sharp and when the game started I was active, played the angles and barely gave up a rebound. I was in my comfort zone again.

I think the valuable lesson I learned from this was simply not to over-think stuff. My mind does simply not benefit from thinking too much about the upcoming game. I think less is more, at least in my case. And also perhaps the most important thing - not to forget to have fun out there.

I'd like to hear some other opinions regarding this. How do you prepare for a game? Do you spend all day or just a an hour or two? Or perhaps you don't do anything?