After the anthems are sung, Marcus calls the starting lineup together.
“Alright, boys. We’ve been through a lot together. I want us to make this the best season, okay? You heard what Coach Andrews said. Leave it all on the ice. I love you guys.”
“Let’s do this!” Noah fires back before we break the huddle and take our starting positions.
The puck drops and Marcus tries to grab it, but New York is faster. It’s easy to see their skill, but Noah is already setting up, stopping them from making it into our zone and shooting the puck back toward Marcus.
He sends it over to me and I fly down the ice. Dax is neck and neck with me as I pass it to him, but before he can get it and send it back to Marcus, New York stops us.
“Damn it.”
I push after them, but they slide by our defensemen and get the puck in the back of the net.
It’s an easy goal to start the period.
One that we get back after Graham stops them and sends the puck to Jasper. The bar down goal is a thing of beauty, clanking off the cross bar and sailing down into the net.
“Nice job, old man.” I clap him on the helmet as he slides onto the bench next to me.
“Careful who you’re calling old. I’m only two years older than you.”
“Ancient in hockey.” I wink at him before hopping over the boards for a shift change.
New York is able to put the biscuit in the basket before the end of the first period, and we come out ready for action. Dax scores on a deflected pass and I get the assist on a beautiful pass to Marcus before the end of the second period.
It’s a slog toward the end of the game. We’re evenly matched and fighting for every inch gained on the ice. We’re still hanging on with a close lead, 3-2, as the minutes tick away.
That’s when my chance comes.
An errant stick deflects the puck. Grabbing it from our zone, I take off down the ice. There’s only one defenseman to beat as I deke him out.
Now it’s just me and the goalie. Watching as he settles into the goal, I fake right then left and fire it into the net.
The lamp lights up and a collective groan issues from the home crowd.
“Hell yeah!” I pump my fist as the guys all pile on to congratulate me.
“Nice work!” Marcus bumps my shoulder pads with his fist. “That was a thing of beauty.”
Damn. That felt good.
Skating to the bench, I slide in the open gate and take my seat.
“Nice work, Adams.” Coach taps my helmet. “Way to read the play.”
I nod, swigging my water and watching as the remaining time fades away, earning Nashville our first win of the season.
The mood in the locker room is raucous. Everyone is ecstatic that we managed to beat the home team day one.
“Great job, men. Take tonight to enjoy this win and then tomorrow, we’ll start preparing for our game against Boston.”
I answer a few questions for the press waiting in the locker room before I get cleaned up and back into my gameday suit, ready to make the short trip to Boston.
The buses are waiting for us as I jog up the stairs and take my usual seat.
“How was the first game away from Caleb?” Marcus asks, sitting down next to me.
“Honestly? I miss him. Is that weird?”
