Page 65 of Defensive Zone

They moved toward the Strikers’ bench, tapping gloves with their teammates. Every goal was as important as the last and they always celebrated. This put them up one-nothing. Hopefully, they could get a few more and maybe shut out Carolina.

“Come on, Soupy. Get in there,” Max yelled from the bench during the second period as Soupy dug out the puck. Thank fuck he hadn’t had any major injuries from that dirty hit last week. Max was still pissed that Stems had only been fined once Toronto reviewed the play after the game. That fucker should’ve been suspended.

“Yeah, get it,” Crow yelled from his seat next to Max on the bench.

Millsy and Timmy, the third D-pair, had been out there for too long and they looked gassed, but Max and Crow couldn’t go out until the other two made it to the bench. The worst penalty was too many men on the ice, and Max wasn’t going to be the cause of that because he was raring to get back out there.

Soupy dug it out, but a Carolina player grabbed it and they started back toward Gally in the Strikers’ net. Then Soupy got the puck back. He moved toward the corner away from the bench, and Millsy and Timmy were able to get off the ice as Max and Crow hopped over the boards and got in position.

The rookie was good. He was a great addition to the line-up, and Max could see long-term potential, as long as other teams didn’t try to take him out.

Soupy took his shot and it rebounded off the pipes, but Max was there to scoop it up. He shifted his weight from one skate to the other, moving his stick from side to side and keeping the puck close. He waited for the new line of forwards to hit the ice, and then he made his move. The Carolina goalie was weak on his right side. He was slow to get the blocker up, and Max used that to his advantage, firing the puck over the goalie’s shoulder and into the back of the net.

Max shouted and pumped his arms as the rest of his teammates on the ice skated into him, knocking him back into the board with their boisterous hugs.

“Fucking sweet goal, man,” Crow exclaimed, his grin matching Max’s.

They were up three to nothing with a few minutes left in the second period. Gally was holding strong in net, and Max and his teammates weren’t giving Carolina an inch. But Max wouldn’t count it as a victory until the final buzzer. The entire team was on fire and he couldn’t imagine being anywhere else than on the ice with these guys.

He shoved aside the niggle of doubt. Now was not the time for it.

They continued to stay strong, and nothing got by Gally. When the final buzzer sounded with the score of five to nothing, all of the Strikers flooded the ice to celebrate.

“Way to be a brick wall, Gally,” Max said, tapping his helmet to Gally’s and then smacking him on the front of his pads with his stick.

“Thanks for keeping Carolina out of the blue paint,” Gally said.

“Like I’d let those fuckers in,” Max boasted, and Gally grinned.

A three-game road trip with six points and no injuries. It was the best outcome imaginable, and Max was excited to head home tomorrow. This would put the Strikers in first place in the division for the first time this season, and it all but guaranteed a playoff spot if they could keep this momentum.

This was the year. He was going to drink out of that Cup.

“Uncle Max is on the phone,” Connor yelled as they were finishing up dinner.

“Why are you yelling when we’re all here?” Ava asked her son as they sat at the dining room table.

Connor shrugged. “I’m excited. You got that goal for us, right, Uncle Max?” Connor said, turning his attention back to Max’s grinning mug on FaceTime.

“Of course I did, buddy. Just for you and Lia. And the assist was for Elise,” Max said.

Dammit. That was adorable.

“It was a great game, Max,” Ava said, smiling at her brother.

Every day Ava seemed to be doing better, her smile more ready, her laugh more boisterous. They hadn’t talked much about Greg since that initial conversation, but Gabi made sure her bestie knew she was available at any time.

Except when she had her tongue down her best friend’s brother’s throat.

She willed away the heat in her cheeks and focused on her food. The last thing she needed was Max noticing her blush.

Connor and Amelia started volleying back and forth about their excitement watching Max play. Max chuckled and answered their questions.

Then Gabi’s phone buzzed in her pocket. Who was texting her?

Max: Is that blush for me? Thinking dirty thoughts while having dinner with my nieces and nephew? For shame.

Her head shot up and she caught the twinkle in his eyes on the screen. How the hell was he texting and video chatting? He must be on his tablet. He looked calm and collected while heat was barreling through her. It was completely unfair.

---