Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
[From the ESPN pregame broadcast, four men sit around a desk and discuss the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The panel consists of retired NHL players turned hockey commentators with countless accolades to their names.
Doug, the host and a former winger; Levi, a former defenseman; Paul “the Wall”, a former goaltender; Miles, a former center.
The camera zooms in on Doug as the broadcast returns from a commercial break. ]
Doug: Welcome back. We’re just about to get started with game one of the Stanley Cup playoffs. For those who didn't watch the regular season and are just tuning in, we’ll bring you up to speed. Levi, how’s the league looking this postseason?
Levi: This year the Western Conference is looking like it’ll be a bloodbath. Between Los Angeles taking the Pacific by storm and a solid Central Division, we could see some early heartbreak as these teams go up against each other.
Doug: And how’s it looking in the Eastern Conference by comparison?
Levi: To be frank, like a completely different sport. I suspect one or two teams are going to railroad the rest straight to the Conference Final.
Doug: It’s not the first time we’ve seen drastically different looking conferences, but anything can happen.
Miles: That’s right. Deliberating’s over boys. Time to lock in your pick. Let’s start with Paul on the other end.
Paul (with a thoughtful smile): You know, this was a tough decision.
I’m biased, I looked at the lineup of teams and assessed each from a goaltending perspective.
I was able to narrow my choice to two teams: Seattle, Chicago.
We’ve been talking about Vezina contenders this year, and I think James Harrison has a chance to take it—especially if he performs well in the playoffs.
He’s young and has had a promising start to his career with the Comets.
If his team can score goals consistently, then he can hold up his end of the bargain.
[Paul strokes his blonde beard, humming softly.]
Paul: With that said, I still have to give my vote to Seattle ultimately. I think they are the better all-around team with a solid offense and veteran goaltender the team can rely on to perform consistently. And that’s what you need in the playoffs: consistency.
Miles: Goalies lead the way. Levi, you’re up next.
Levi: Sorry for being a broken record all season, but my pick’s obvious: the LA Grizzlies.
I mean, how can you not root for them? They have a kid who’s on track to be the rookie of the year.
If Wes Harper can stay healthy and continue receiving support from his team, then I don’t see the hype train stopping any time soon.
Wes Harper is putting his team on his back and shooting for the moon.
Miles (chuckling): Hockey players becoming astronauts, coming to a Stanley Cup playoff near you. Doug?
Doug: As much as I want to believe Levi’s vision of putting the first hockey player on the moon, I gotta be realistic. I think Harper’s a little too young for the demands of the playoffs. LA’s going out in the first round.
Levi (smirking): You willing to put some stakes on that, Doug?
Doug: Sure. I’m such a hype-train killer I’ll dye my hair green if the Grizzlies make it past round one.
[The other two members of the panel snicker from the back and forth bantering.]
Miles: Alright, alright, if not Los Angeles, then who?
Doug: I’m going to throw a curveball and say New York.
They’ve been consistent all season, and I think the Eastern Conference is less competitive this year overall like we mentioned at the top of the show.
I think the Pacific and Central teams are going to grind each other out to seven games a round while the other half of the bracket lets New York coast through.
Miles (grinning): Bold predictions, fellas.
[The three other members of the ESPN panel turn to Miles.]
Miles: Guess it’s time for me to ante up. Well, you know I’m still upset San Diego couldn’t clinch the wildcard. Next time, for sure. So I gotta pick Seattle! Paul’s right on the money. They’ll knock out Vegas and ride that victory all the way to the cup.
Doug: Well there you have it folks. The votes have been cast. Share your picks for this year’s Stanley Cup winner on social media, and be sure to keep tuning in for the best hockey pregame show in the business here on ESPN.
Doug: Now without further ado, it’s time for playoff hockey!
Round one.
Some would argue it’s the tone setter for the entirety of the playoffs. What narratives emerge? Can any of the teams sweep their competition in four of seven games? Who comes away as an early favorite to win it all? Who plays the role of the villain, the underdog?
Eric and I could face each other if our teams advance to round two.
The Seattle Seadogs will first face Vegas, the team who crushed the playoff hopes of San Diego, putting to bed their dreams of reaching the playoffs for the first time in their franchise’s history.
With this narrative as the backdrop, the Seattle-Vegas matchup’s advertised as a battle between one of the league’s most beloved teams against one of its favorite recurring villains.
As such, San Diego’s fans hop onto the Seattle bandwagon, eager to see Vegas nuked from orbit in spectacular fashion.
Ahead of the Comets first game against Denver, Eric texts me while I’m making my way into the arena.
Eric
Good luck tonight!
I hear his voice narrating those words in my mind. It’s like he’s here with me in the hallway, his presence warming my heart. As much as I’ll miss texting him on a regular basis, I’ll have to resist. We’ll both be too tired after the long days and not willing to disrupt each other’s focus.
Me
Thanks, you too!
If the fates are kind, then this bout of silence won’t last long, and the next time we speak to each other it will be ahead of our own matchup in round two.
We beat Denver twice in Chicago and twice in their home arena.
A four game sweep. Because we’ve won before the start of round two can officially begin, the Comets have a few extra days to rest and breathe easy.
While this is absolutely a great result, I can’t help but worry a little.
Chicago’s offense started off hot, scoring multiple times in each of the four games.
With a brief break, however, I’m concerned about our momentum.
I’d almost rather keep playing than lose our energy.
Nonetheless, arriving back home in Chicago early provides an opportunity to check in on the rest of the matchups.
To no one’s surprise, Los Angeles crushed their opponent in similar fashion as the Comets, sweeping their series in four games.
They’ll also have time to rest, but unlike the Comets, the Grizzlies have been riding a wave of momentum all season long.
I’m not worried about them slowing down because of rest. Quite the opposite; rest will make the Grizzlies a dangerous team for their round two competition.
The same can’t be said for the Seattle-Vegas series, where Vegas refuses to go down quietly, forcing seven games. From the comfort of my own apartment, I watch game seven on pins and needles.
Vegas scores on Eric twice in the first period, but myself and the rest of the Seadogs faithful continue to believe in the comeback. If Vegas wins, my dreams of facing Eric in the next round will be completely shattered—and the hockey gods don’t want that, right?
In the opening minute of the second period, Braydan drives a one-timer from a sharp angle near the boards and opens the score for the Seadogs.
For the rest of the period, the game remains Vegas two, Seattle one, but Seattle keeps up the pressure.
This isn’t a hockey game, this is a battle, and Eric and Braydan are admirals on the ice—commanding and inspiring their fellow Seadogs to stay in the game.
The second intermission takes too long, a stressful fifteen minute break.
The ESPN panelists hyperanalyze every minute of play in their review, and they come to the same conclusion as I do: if the Seadogs can carry the momentum of their first goal, if they can continue battling in the offensive zone, if they can make Vegas’ goalie work for every single save, then the game could—should—shift in their favor.
When the game returns for the third period, I’m on the edge of my seat. The Seadogs need to score to tie this game up.
Five minutes into the third, a Vegas player carelessly causes a Seattle forward to trip and fall to the ice.
A whistle blows the puck dead, and Seattle earns a much needed power play.
Seattle’s first power play unit comes onto the ice, and they make Vegas regret taking the penalty with a tic-tac-toe goal.
Vegas’ goalie didn’t even see it fly through bodies and hit top shelf into the net.
The ice tilts in Seattle’s favor. The power play goal becomes the game’s pivotal moment, the turning point for Seattle. After securing the game-tying goal, Seattle’s offense scores again, putting them ahead of Vegas.
Momentum has a tendency to build quickly in hockey. One go-ahead goal becomes two, giving Seattle much needed breathing room and puts Vegas scrambling on the back foot.
For Vegas fans who still had hopes of somehow beating the odds and finding a way to tie the game are forced to think again. The Seadogs drown any attempt of a comeback by scoring again in the final three minutes of the game, all but ensuring the Seadogs will go forward to round two.
“…and with that, Vegas has folded. Cashed out,” the ESPN commentator says over the roar of the crowd. “The team couldn’t close the deal. This is a catastrophic collapse for a franchise which was on track for a deep playoff run…”
When the buzzer rings out, the Seadogs rush to Eric for a well-deserved celebration.
They’re all smiles and helmet bumps. This seven game series was hard fought, and there won’t be much of a break ahead of the next round.
But for now, they’ve done it. The Seattle Seadogs will advance further into the playoffs.
After dreaming about the possibility of Eric and I playing against each other in the playoffs for years, it’s happening. It’s really, really happening. The spotlight will be on Eric and I, as competitors, as equals.