Jones: Long trip to Prospects Game was worth it

Seth Jones is a defenseman for the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound blueliner has solid athletic bloodlines -- his father, Popeye Jones, played 11 seasons in the NBA. Jones excelled the past two seasons for the U.S. National Team Development Program and likely will play for the U.S. team at the 2013 World Junior Championship. Jones has offered to maintain a monthly blog for NHL.com that will chronicle his season leading up to the 2013 NHL Draft.

We just finished a very long day here in Buffalo with a great win.

I got in around 10:15 this morning, came to the rink here, dropped off my gear and settled in. I got to see some of the guys I played with and against, and some of the younger guys I know. I did a little media work, nothing big, about 20 minutes. Then I went back to the hotel, had a pregame meal. I tried to sleep as much as I could, but about an hour is all I did, which isn't much. Then it was back to the rink to get ready for the game.

At the start, the game was a little out of whack. Nobody had any chemistry with anyone, just threw the lines together. The first period for me personally was all right. I was a little tired, obviously, and I had to get my feet under myself a little bit.

The second period was better, and I scored a goal. It was just a faceoff win, and I just got the puck to the net and I was lucky it went in.

We won the game (5-2), which was nice, and I thought I played pretty well.

Coming here was a lot of fun. I knew the fans were going to be pretty good and it was nice that the city of Buffalo held this event for us, and USA Hockey did a great job putting this event on for us.

My travel home will be a lot easier. I leave at noon tomorrow. I have to fly through Atlanta again and then go to Portland. But I land there about 7 p.m. tomorrow. I'll get a good night's sleep and come back the next day and practice with the team.

Follow Seth Jones on Twitter: @seth_jones04