He’s right. Calgary’s line change is sloppy, their coach barking corrections from the bench. Their fans have gone quieter, that nervous energy when the home team gives up the first goal.
Good. Let them be rattled.
I’m just getting started.
The rest of the first period is a battle. Calgary pushes back hard, throwing everything at the net. Luca makes two incredible saves—one with his glove that has everyone on the bench banging their sticks—to keep our lead. We trade penalties. The physicality ramps up with every whistle.
But I can’t get another clean look. Every time I touch the puck, I’ve got two guys on me, maybe three. They’re keying on me now, know I’m feeling it tonight. Their defensemen are taking runs at me, trying to knock me off my game.
During a TV timeout, I sneak a glance at the family section. Juliette’s talking to Goldie but her eyes keep drifting to me. She’s playing with her necklace and I can tell she’s thinking about it too. About what one goal means. About what might happen if I score again.
The thought makes me restless, makes my legs feel like they could skate through the boards.
Second period.We come out flying.
Three minutes in, Calgary takes a penalty for slashing. Power play. Finally, Dex finds me at the right circle. The pass is perfect, tape to tape.
One-timer. I don’t even see it go in. Just hear the ping of the puck off the inside of the post and then our bench going insane.
Two goals.
This time when I skate past the family section, I slow down just enough to make eye contact and point right at her again.
She’s standing but laughing now, shaking her head with this expression that’s part shock, part “I can’t believe you’re actually doing this,” part something else that makes my blood run hot.
Two.
My teammates mob me against the boards. Brody’s shaking me by the shoulders, yelling something I can’t hear over the crowd.
“You’re on fire tonight!” finally breaks through.
“Just lucky.”
“Luck nothing. You’re dialed in.”
Back on the bench, I grab water and try to settle the adrenaline that’s making my hands shake. Two goals. Two. The math is simple and devastating.
Still over half the game left.
The thought makes me grin.
The second period continues and Calgary’s getting desperate. They’re taking more risks, pinching their defense, throwing bodies everywhere. Big hits that echo through the arena, their crowd trying to will their team back into it.
But we’re weathering it. Luca’s locked in, tracking everything. Our defense is blocking shots like their lives depend on it. And every time I touch the puck, something electric runs through my whole body.
It’s one of those nights when everything clicks. When the game slows down and your stick becomes an extension of your thoughts.
Midway through the second, we’re cycling the puck in their zone. Dex to Brody behind the net. Brody back to Dex in the corner. Their defense is collapsing toward the net, trying to prevent any passes to the slot.
Which leaves me wide open at the top of the circle.
Dex sees it the same moment I do. The pass is hard and flat,right on my tape.
I don’t have time to think. Just catch and release in one motion, everything flowing through the shot.
The puck rockets past their goalie’s blocker before he can even extend his arm.
Three goals.
