Page 154 of Unmasking Love
Harper is here, she and Caroline flew out together last night. She's up in the family suite but I miss her being behind me.
I take one last centering breath behind the net and then when I turn to skate away I catch a fling of long dark hair.
"I'm behind you babe!" Harper yells and warmth floods my body. "Let's go Renegades!"
The boys skate around and I get back in net one last time. I block the shots that come my way, the boys focusing on my weaker side this time. This feels good. Energizing.
Because Harper is here.
I told her months ago I wanted to impress her when she was behind me. And that's still true. I have her, we belong to each other, but I still want to fluster her with my hockey skills.
***
A scoreless first.
A scoreless second.
Our defense has been strong, breaking up plays before they can form.
But their defense has been the same.
Chicago has to win this game if they want a chance.
We could lose it and then play to win the cup at home.
But fuck I want to end this.
Coach told us to keep playing our game. To not get nervous. When we get nervous we make mistakes.
It turns out they got nervous first and got called for a tripping penalty. Our power play team is giving it everything they can but nothing is getting through.
Seconds tick away.
I make an easy glove save and pass it off to Felix before they can whistle the play dead. Chicago ices the puck and we get a TV timeout.
The team gathers at the bench and Coach draws up a few plays and also runs through defensive strategy if they pull their goalie.
If it goes to OT it's sudden death. First goal wins.
With a stalemate on an opponent’s ice the odds are not in our favor to win in overtime. Coach wants us to throw everything at the net and just get thefucking dirtygoal to end it.
The boys line up for the face off in the far zone and I watch the puck get kicked to the corner where Bryson scrambles after it.
Chicago gets possession and brings it forward, we change a forward for an extra defenseman while they keep control of the puck in my zone.
"Skater!" I hear Emmett yell. Meaning they've pulled their goalie. The boys move into position to cut off passing lanes and try to force a turnover.
Left to right, down the boards behind the net, back in front; the puck is constantly moving.
But I'm tracking it.
"Four!" I hear from the bench. Four minutes left in the period.
It was risky for them to pull the goalie so early but they're desperate.
Crosby intercepts a pass but doesn't get a clean chance to clear it so Chicago keeps it in the zone.
Shouts of "shoot it" and "go" fill my ears.
