“Can you believe this? We’re one win away” I stated in awe, lacing up my skates for the warmup. The dressing room was tense; everyone nervous for the next sixty or more minutes. I had hopes it wouldn't go into overtime; I wanted to win this in regulation.

I knew the game wouldn't be easy; it'd be the hardest one of the playoffs. Montreal had been embarrassed by losing three straight, giving up their 3-0 series lead. To say most of the pressure was on them tonight was an understatement, especially in front of a hungry home crowd. Their team hadn't own since 1993; they wanted to end their 23 year drought. As for us, despite it only being 17 years since our last cup, I felt like it needed to come back to Dallas, where I believed it belonged.

“I don't think I could have predicted the outcome of this series if I tried” Tyler laughed nervously. I nodded, agreeing; I didn't think this was how it would end; game seven after being down in the series so significantly. I knew we surprised everyone by climbing back; but I had no doubts in our teams ability from the beginning.

“I don't think anyone could have” Demers spoke up with a frown.

Kari was feeling a particular amount of pressure tonight; I could tell by the expression he wore on his face. I knew most games he felt the weight of the game on his shoulders; we could play amazing until we were blue in the face, but if he didn't perform well we'd still be screwed.

I wanted to reach out, help calm him down, but I had no idea what to say; how to say it. I felt the weight of the game on my shoulders too; and there wasn't anything anyone could say to change my mind, or ease the feeling of nerves.



Warm up was a blur. Swarms of red and white were seen in the crowd, little bits of green seen every once in awhile. How awesome would it be to win the cup in their home arena? As much as it would have been nice to win the cup at home, it didn't truly matter; I just wanted to win.

Scanning the crowd I couldn't help but wish Haley could have been here. My parents and sister flew down, whom I was very anxious to see, but the one person I wanted here wasn't. I understood she had to work; there was nothing that could change that. It didn't change the pang in my heart I felt knowing her absence.

Erica was able to come; Tyler was ecstatic at the same time he was nervous; she would be meeting his parents and sisters for the first time. I had to say it was somewhat strange to see Tyler introduce a girl to his family. Haley of course had already met mine; Jenny always said we’d make a good couple. Of course, I always laughed her off; just like I'd always dismiss the idea when Tyler first began to tease me about it. She had yet to tell me she told me so; I was waiting for it, though.

During the anthems, my thought was on one thing; winning. What have I done right this series? What have I done wrong? How can I keep Kessel pointless? How can I contribute offensively? So many thoughts were running through my head; I wanted this.

But I knew I wasn't the only one who did; there were fifty other guys that wanted it just as badly as I did; making the competition fierce.

We lined up for the opening face off; the atmosphere in the building was intense. The crowd was loud and very much into the game, even at puck drop. Tonight was the night. Tonight, we could become champions.

***

First period came to a close with nothing overly exciting to report. Kari and Price both made some key saves, keeping the game at a scoreless tie. Tyler led the team with two shots on net, the rest of us combining for the other eight attempts. Montreal had an equal amount of shots, but had much more offensive zone time than we did.

It was clear what we had to do differently in the next period; we had to play a more solid defensive game. Neither team had given up a power play, the game being played very careful by both sides. But I knew as well as any hockey expert, it was a matter of time before the pressure got to somebody, they'd make a mistake, and they'd pay for it.

I just hoped to god it wasn't me.

Second period began.

Just one minute in my brother, of all people, took a stupid and debatable penalty for tripping Subban in the corner in the defensive zone. I knew he felt bad about it; I could read the expression on his face as he skated, head down towards the sin bin. With the games first power play, it was important we kill it off.

And we almost did.

But with just five seconds left in the penalty, Brendan Gallagher tipped in a point shot from Subban to get the games first goal; we were down 1-0. The crowd went wild; they were electric. It was hard to hear my own thoughts; it seemed like they were getting drowned out from the excessive cheering.

With my own head down I skated back onto the ice, giving Jordie a tap on the gloves, lining up to take the face off. We needed to shake this off; we couldn't let them get into our heads.

I wiped the sweat off my face, hollering down the bench shouting words of encouragement. I knew we were a little discouraged; we wanted to open the scoring. Being behind in a game like this was dangerous; especially against a goalie like Price.

Luckily for us, with two minutes left in the second Jason Spezza put one home, top shelf, with a perfect wrister off a saucer pass from Tyler to tie the game up. I couldn't tell you how ecstatic we all were on the bench. We all erupted into cheers, hugging and high fiving as the crowd booed us. But in the midst of the boos we could hear the few fans we had in the building, standing up and cheering loudly, not caring about the glares they were getting from the Habs fans.

All hope wasn't lost; we exited the period with a tie game.

Final frame. I hoped we could score to end this in regulation. I hoped we wouldn't give up another goal; or another penalty. We had two opportunities in the second to score on the power play to no avail; damn, Price was a great goalie.

I was let down; after a very intense, but scoreless third period, we were headed off to overtime. This was it. Game seven sudden death overtime. Next goal wins. Next goal wins the Stanley Cup; next person to score would be a hero for their team. The time to pull through for my team was now.

The next shift of mine happened in slow motion. One minute, we were in the offensive zone; laying on the pressure, trying to end the game so early in the extra period. The next moment, the shot Tyler sent wide riffled hard off the boards, taking an awkward bounce and sending the Habs down on a 2 on 1.
Skating on the back check, I felt my heart began to beat rapidly: I was panicking. I saw the entire series flash before my eyes. I saw being down 3-0 in the series; the way we came back; the way we never gave up.

All of our hard work was over in a matter of seconds.

The crowd leapt up to its feet, the goal horn sounding annoying in the background. The entire team jumped up on Brendan Gallagher (of all fucking people), who managed to put away the game winner.
It wasn't hard to see the disappointment in my teammates eyes; in our coaches eyes. I hung my head down low, completely devastated by the way this had ended. Everything we had worked so hard for this season; this playoffs. I began to wonder if it would have just been easier on me had we have lost four straight, instead of climbing back into contention, only to be let down like this.

I guess that's why I didn't notice the way Kari fought the refs when the goal was scored. Or the way Ruff began yelling over the bench.

All of a sudden I was summoned over to centre ice, where the ref announced to Subban and I they were going upstairs on the goal.

I eyed him curiously; I thought the puck had just squeaked its way past; but Kari says differently. The call on the ice said differently. The Habs had been so happy they celebrated immediately, not even noticing the ref waving the goal off almost immediately. The red light went off; the crowd went off; I just assumed it went in.

There was a tiny glimmer of hope for a second. Could it be? Was I so wrapped up in losing I missed the fact the puck didn't actually cross the line?

The next few moments I swear were the longest of my life. The crowd almost waited in near silence for the call to be made; I couldn't believe just how quiet and intense the building had gotten all of a sudden.
I knew they would take awhile in Toronto; the fate of the Stanley cup winner in their hands. The longer we were forced to wait, the more and more nervous I grew. Was that a good sign? If they couldn't conclusively prove the goal went in- the call on the ice would stand.

After what seemed like a lifetime, the ref hung up, skating the Center to announce his verdict.

“After careful review, it was determined that the puck did not fully cross the line, no goal”

Oh my god.

The crowd let out a series of loud boos. The entire Montreal team shook their heads in disbelief; trying to argue with the call, like it would somehow make a difference.

I felt a small smile creep on my face as I skated back to the bench; when I noticed it.

I don't know how I happened to see, but I saw her.

Sitting there, with a few others in a line of green jerseys mixed in amongst the white; I noticed Haley. I couldn't help but crack a huge smile; she came.

And in that moment, I was even more determined to win this.

Notes

sorry it took so long! One more chapter left after this :)