“We’ll get it back!” Cash shouts as he skates behind the goal. “It’s only one goal.”
I nod in his direction, grabbing my water bottle to take a swig. Like he said, it’s only one goal.
As play resumes, my eyes are laser focused on the game. The guys are fighting hard in our offensive zone, but no luck putting the biscuit in the basket.
Damn. Carolina is good. You can only glean so much from watching film instead of live action. They picked up a few new players this season and they’re gelling well.
But we’re better. Even if the score doesn’t show it as the horn sounds to end the first period.
“Don’t get in your head, Nicky,” Troy tells me as we head down the tunnel.
“It was an easy one.”
“Nah, Cash was there and it snuck in. You’ll get the next one.”
Except, when the game resumes, it’s another goal for Carolina to start the period. The crowd is going crazy with how fast they scored. Many seats are still empty, fans getting beers and food, and they missed the goal.
I ignore the chirping from the Carolina fans as the team celebrates on the ice.
Fuck.
I am not making the team look good tonight.
Thankfully, Noah is and gets one in the goal for us. He skates down the boards, fist-bumping everyone on the bench.
Good. 2-1 isn’t the worst deficit to try and overcome. Not with plenty of hockey left to play.
The rest of the second period goes by without a goal. Both teams are equally matched tonight, and have been getting the shots on goal.
“That was a better second period, men,” Coach Barney tells us once we’re in the locker room for intermission. “Keep firing away, and we’ll get there. Like I said, Carolina is a good team and we knew this would be a hard fight. Let’s clean up those mistakes and play some good, hard hockey in the final period to bring this one home.”
I take a few deep, steadying breaths to clear my head before we head out for the final period. It’s never easy being down. It takes less than a second to score, but you can remain scoreless for an entire period before finally getting a scoring chance.
It won’t be easy, but I’m ready to bring this game home for us.
The third period is a defensive battle, scoreless for the first half of the period. Carolina races down the ice, but I’m ready. I knock the puck away with my stick, and Cash is there to take possession.
Troy is with him as he passes the puck off and is on a breakaway. It’s him and the goalie. Pulling his stick back, he fires and it dings off the crossbar, hitting it out of bounds into the net that protect the crowds from wayward pucks.
“Damn it!”
It would’ve been a thing of beauty had it gone in. It’s the way the rest of the period goes for us. Missed opportunities and good goaltending by Carolina.
No matter what we do, we can’t seem to get the puck into the net. Carolina is matching us play for play.
With only two minutes left, Coach Barney calls me off the ice and sends in another guy to try and even up the score, but no such luck.
The final horn sounds in Carolina’s favor.
Final score 2-1, Carolina.
They are going to be a good team for years to come, even if I hate to admit it. It’s hard not to hang my head as I skate off the ice toward our locker room.
The mood in the locker room following a loss is never easy. Every single guy in here is carrying the blame solely on their shoulders.
I waste no time shucking off my pads and heading to the showers. The water is lukewarm at best as I’m in and out in a few minutes’ time. The sooner we’re all done, the sooner we head home.
The press is already waiting to talk to us.
