“On it,” I fire back, as we all head out of the locker room.
From the moment the puck dropped, it’s been nothing but an intense game. Vancouver’s got the home crowd behind them. They’re absolutely electric. Both teams have been fighting nonstop and we have nothing to show for it.
Getting moved up a line is big, and I don’t want to screw this up as we take the ice for the beginning of the second period.
Marcus wins the face-off and shoots the puck over to Bode. Setting up, he skates back into our zone before sending the puck my way. Vancouver’s defensemen are waiting for us. I deke around one of them and send the puck back to Marcus.
They’re waiting for Marcus and crush him into the boards, but not before he gets the puck back over to me and I’m able to put it into the back of the net to score the first goal of the game.
“Fuck, yeah, Dax!” Bode piles on top of me as the lamp lights and the home crowd boos us. “That was awesome!”
“Keep doing that, Dax.” Marcus smacks me on top of my helmet as I skate back to starting position for the puck drop.
Vancouver tries to match our goal, but we’re ready. One goal fires up the team and we’re all energized. Our defensemen stop the goal and shoot the puck my way. I take off. Not a single person from Vancouver is in my way.
Faking the goalie out, I fire the puck toward his stick side and the beautiful light flashes again.
“Breakaway goal. It’s your night!” Marcus says, coming over to congratulate me.
“Great setup,” I tell him.
“You made it look easy,” Bode says.
“No goal is easy.”
“That’s about as easy as they come. Take the compliment.” Marcus bumps me with his stick.
Vancouver is ready after this face-off and nabs the puck. For the rest of the second period, it’s a battle of wills. They’re a good team, as are we, and we’re fighting to keep them off the scoreboard.
At the end of the second, one of their defensemen gets Noah tied up and they’re able to put the biscuit in the basket.
“Damn it.” I throw my water bottle down for the final shift change of the period as their fans celebrate the goal.
We run the clock out on the second period, then Coach Andrews goes over the game plan for the final period.
I’m staying with Marcus and Bode as he mixes up the second and third lines. Fresh legs to keep us on our feet the rest of the game.
Vancouver comes out swinging, but this time, Noah is there to stop a goal and sends the puck to me. Not able to get a breakaway this time, I send the puck flying to Bode who takes off across the ice and gets his own goal.
“Hell yeah, baby!” I skate up to him, jumping on top of him. “Great job!”
“Great assist!” He claps me on the helmet. “Keep it up, Dax.”
The tide of the game is starting to lean in our favor. Vancouver is making silly mistakes that we’re able to capitalize on. With one more goal late in the third, Vancouver pulls their goalie in favor of an extra man on the ice.
Coach sends us out to finish the game.
They’re not giving in, playing hard and trying to get the puck away from us behind the net.
It slips out and I make my move. Cradling it in my stick, my skill is on point as I move it down the ice. With only one person in front of me, I send it flying.
Smack into the back of the net.
I thrust my arms in the air. A hat trick. I’ve never gotten one before in my life. I can’t believe it.
“Fuck, yeah! We are going out to celebrate tonight!” Bode is grinning from ear to ear as he comes over to me. Marcus is waiting at the gate to welcome us back to the bench.
“Whatever Bode said, I agree with him.”
