Page 81 of Staying Selfless

During the first period, Ohio scores five minutes in. Benny made a bad judgment call, leaving the net open for far too long as he tried to settle the puck for his team. It took a bad bounce off his stick, landing on an opponents’, and quickly finding its way to the back of the net.

You can tell that almost every player is full of nerves. Pucks aren’t settling, line changes are sloppy, and hits are anything but clean. The unease is much more evident in the younger players. Veterans like Eli and Zanders are showing experienced composure as they settle into the game.

With two minutes left in the first period, Cam scores on a gritty play, getting himself in the thick of Ohio’s defensemen as they try to protect their goal. I couldn’t tell you how it happened because there were way too many bodies around, but Cam somehow finds the back of the net, tying the game.

I always feel a sense of pride for my friend when he scores, and this huge goal is no exception.

The second period is much more fluid. Passes are completed, shifts are timed correctly, and the offense is able to set up, unlike the constant back-and-forth of the first period.

On a breakaway in the neutral zone, Eli gets tripped up by one of Ohio State’s defensemen, resulting in a penalty being called. Not only a penalty but also a penalty shot for him.

My guy’s handsome face takes over the Jumbotron as I spot the laser focus in his eyes. I watch as Eli takes a deep breath in the center circle before taking off with the puck, going one-on-one with Ohio’s goalie. He uses his quick handles to pull the goalie in one direction before going top corner over his glove, into the net, and giving Minnesota a 2-1 lead.

The crowd erupts as always, but the energy today is electric for the division championship game.

I feel much calmer for the beginning of the third period, and I thoroughly enjoy watching Eli and Zanders anytime they’re up against one another. You can tell their level of respect for each other has drastically changed over the last month. There are no late hits, no dirty jabs, just two extremely talented players playing their own games.

Eli hits another shot off the goalpost, and even though he was robbed, you can sense it’s only a matter of time until he scores again. The way he’s moving, the seams he’s finding, another goal is inevitable.

The bench in front of me knows it too. The way they’re cheering, celebrating, trying to set him up for a second goal. Everyone knows it’s coming.

And just like clockwork, halfway through the third, Eli gets a breakaway, thanks to Patrick’s defensive steal, as he uses his speed to beat Zanders. It’s just by a few inches, but the small amount of ground he gains on number eleven is enough to create the space he needs to go five-hole between the goalie’s legs, giving Minnesota the 3-1 lead.

Relief takes over the crowd, and the excitement and celebration begin to kick in as we gain a two-goal lead over our division rivals.

I can spot the smile on Eli’s lips from here. He’s having fun out there, and it’s evident in the way he’s playing.

Eli and Cam finally get a shift together, and the very few times it happens, it’s so fun to watch. Eli continually tries to set up our friend for a goal, never being greedy when Cam is on the ice with him. His first attempt at an assist is close, but Cam’s stick doesn’t connect correctly for the one-timer.

The next time down the ice, Eli tries to set up Cam in the same manner, centering the puck, but I couldn’t tell you what happened with Cam after that. All I could do was keep my stare on my boyfriend as one of Ohio State’s frustrated defenseman blindly throws him into the boards from behind.

I watch it all in slow-motion. Eli has no time to brace for impact as the late, dirty hit rocks his whole body. His head hits the glass first before his lower body awkwardly tangles below him, taking the rest of the blow.

The resulting bang into the glass is deafening as Eli gets smashed between the player in gray and the rattling boards.

He’s across the rink for me, and my line of vision is perfect. Though, I wish it wasn’t. I don’t know if I’ll ever get this image out of my head.

Eli’s body slumps down onto the ice, dropping his stick as he falls.

I stand from my seat, the blood draining from my face as I wait for him to get up.

Get up.

Why isn’t he getting up?

Get the fuck up, Eli.

Chapter 23

Logan

After what felt like an eternity of Eli not moving, he finally writhes in pain on the ice as the player from Ohio State, who hit him, stands over my boyfriend’s body, talking shit to him.

Suddenly, Zanders comes out of nowhere, grabbing his teammate by the jersey and pinning him to the glass. Zanders’ face is right up in his grill, and if the color of his skin allowed, I believe it would be red with anger as he screams at his teammate for the illegal hit.

Even though the stadium has quieted as our star player suffers on the ice in agony, I still can’t hear what Zanders is yelling at his teammate. There’s too much commotion on the ice.

Zanders pushes the other player away before skating over to Eli. Cam is there, too, as they attempt to get him up. Eli tries to do it on his own, but it’s no use. He clearly can’t put weight on one of his legs.

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