Toronto, Canada

Eastern Conference, Hotel X

As we're preparing to faceoff this afternoon in Toronto against the Washington Capitals, Kuch struts into the locker room with his head held high. On either side of him is Mikhail Sergachev and Ondrej Palat.

"Alright, don't fuck this up for me! I like to always have the bragging rights on Ovi. We can't let him score AT ALL!" Kuch announces. "If he so much as sniffs at the net today with a shot, I'll scream. Capiche?"

Brayden gets up and walks over to him. "No worries, we got this, buddy!" He puts his hand firmly on the Russian's shoulder.

"Good! I want to be able to rub a win and maybe a few goals in his face afterward." He smirks and heads to his stall.

"Alright, let's do this thing!" Pat Maroon howls out.

This is generally how it always goes when we faceoff against the Capitals. Kuch gives a speech about besting Ovi and not being embarrassed and then someone shouts out 'let's do the thing.' So, we finish getting ready and go through the warmups.

My line starts off with good pressure in the zone. The game starts off really fast paced and with a good tempo. And we're playing against the Capitals!

This pressure and good start leads to a goal from Kuch to put us up 1-0.

He excitedly comes to the bench and fist bumps us with a Russian, "Spasibo." It's the only Russian word I know. It means 'thank you.'

Not long after the goal, I find myself back out on the ice with Goodrow and Pickles. Goodrow is lit up for a Capital, while I race into the zone with Pickles. The whistle blows and Kuznetsov goes after Pickles. They jostle one another for a little bit, before it is broken up and everyone settles down again.

Tony's line takes the ice. He attempts to hit Ovi into the boards and I glance over quickly to see Kuch's reaction. He's leaning forward in his spot, eagerly watching. It leads to another brief scrum, involving Johnny.

He's called for roughing as well as a Capital player.

Then Misha takes an interference penalty.

During the PK, Oshie is able to knock Heddy's stick out of his hands and Cernak jostles with a Capital player.

But the penalty is killed off.

The clock winds down to the final minutes of the period, when Ovi and Tom Wilson decide to sandwich Kuch between them. He bounces back luckily and taps Ovi on the pads as he heads to the bench.

Shortly after the buzzer sounds to end play and we head to the locker rooms.

The second period kicks off with a hard hit by Tom Wilson on McDonaugh. Cernak takes exception to it and goes after Wilson, jostling behind the net. It draws a penalty on Cernak unfortunately, but it's worth it.

At least I think so. Don't mess with Donut!

We quickly kill off the penalty and I take the ice for an extended checking shift. After all, my game is very much centered around being a puck hound and jumping on players with the puck to poke it free and get it to my teammates.

I head to the bench, having started another tight zone penetration for us. Hathaway goes after Pat Maroon as I finish getting a drink.

I soon find myself back on the ice, working nicely with my poke-checking and board work to get the puck to Pickles for a decent shot and chance.

It's enough to allow Mitchell, Maroon and Ceddy's line to continue the zone pressure and tire out the Capitals.

Mitchell Stephens gets to the net and is able to redirect a shot into the net for his first career playoff goal AND to help us get a 2-0 lead on Washington!!

I watch him celebrate, super happy and stoked that he scored. He's played really well and has more than earned the spot in the lineup. I know we want Stammer to come back, but Mitchell's been super solid and one of our best players.

My line comes out after the goal and after I congratulate Mitchell for scoring his first. First of many for sure! Especially if he keeps playing like he has been! I giveaway the puck, a rare mistake for me. I get back and slide across to make a block and help out the scrambling defense. After all, it was MY fault.

Ceddy is lit up by Hathaway by the benches and then Kuch does one of his slick moves to drive more offense. We look so good, but we can't let up at all. Any mistake could turn into a momentum swing and we can't let that happen. I can't let that happen!

I'm back out on the ice with Goodrow and Pickles. I'm heading into the zone when I feel a pop to the back of my helmet and neck. And then a second one and that makes me pull back and spin around to face the perpetrator.

I find myself looking at TJ Oshie. I shove him back with a jab of my non-stick holding glove. We spin around, grabbing each other.

"You want your ass handed to you?" I snap at him as we dance across the ice, over the blue line and to the boards near our team bench.

"You drop 'em and I will."

"Sounds like a plan!" I shed my stick to the ice as I hear the faint shrill of the whistle.

I grab tightly to him and shove him against the boards.

"Your team is about to get stuck choking to us!" he growls out.

I shed my gloves and shove him into the boards again as he sheds his and tries to stop me.

We dance around, holding on tightly to one another for a few seconds. Then we finally slowly pull back, gripping onto each other and trying to get set for the main spare. He gets his arm free and goes for my head, but I dodge it and attempt to get a swing in myself. I can't as we spin around and almost lose grip on each other.

The spin, I'm able to get a shot and I nail him in the nose with a nice uppercut and then turn my face, expecting a return from him. Instead I'm ducking low and he jabs the hand holding my jersey into my head. And then gives me a nice blow as we dance by the bench.

I'm focused on the fight, but I can here my teammates cheering me on.

"Get him Gourdo," they shout, banging sticks.

He gets four blows to me. But I don't feel them at all and I stay on my skates. I grab him and wrestle him against the boards.

"Cheater!" he shouts.

"Look who's talking, scumbag!"

That's when I notice a flash of black and white and I know the refs are here to break things up. I let up, as does he. Reluctantly, but we have to. One of the zebras pats me on the back to let me know.

I release him slowly and am guided away toward the tunnel. My teammates are all yelling and hitting their sticks as are the Capitals.

()

I storm off down the tunnel, feeling the rush of the fighting adrenaline that normal comes after a solid duke. I make my way to the locker room, because with the period being close to five minutes, there is no reason for me to stay in the box.

I get an early intermission. Fine. Worth it.

I yowl my excitement as I shed my gloves and helmet and wait for the rest of the team to join me. As I settle down, I can faintly hear what is going on out on the ice. I walk over to the door and get better hearing.

I can hear a solid crunching hit. And someone gasps, "Ceddy, watch it!" I'm guessing he hit someone almost over the boards and into the bench.

Then I hear a horn and celebratory yowls. As it is announced, I learn that Panik has scored for the Capitals.

2-1 Bolts.

I know the period is close to being over, when I hear the sounds of yet another scrum before the net and then Brayden takes a holding penalty.

I'm not sure if it's because of Brayden being in the box and also the fight I had, but I hear an announcement for Kuznetsov scoring to tie the game up.

2-2.

And then the buzzer and slowly miffed teammates come down the tunnel and toward me and the room. They're led by and angry, cussing Russian too.

The third period starts with me in the box, along with Oshie. I lean forward to spit and look over at Oshie. He is already running his mouth sassily at me.

"How'd that fight feel, Gourde?" Oshie chirps. "Didn't de-pretty you at all, did I?"

"Not at all. I kicked your ass."

"You wish. I definitely won that spare." He lifts up his arm to flex.

I lose it at that and I break out laughing hysterically.

"It's not funny!" Oshie snaps and attempts to reach for a bottle of water. I watch him groping blindly for it and that just makes it all the more better. "Look at the score!"

"Yeah, it's tied cause you thought you sparked your team fighting me!"

"Oh yeah, yeah, you're hysterical," I laugh with an animated shrug.

( &

)

Play begins before us and we prepare to exit the boxes and rejoin the game. Eventually we do, leaving the fight -- sorta -- behind us.

Cernak and Hathaway get into a jostling match.

There's back and forth action from both teams, before it ends with a scramble in front of the Capitals' net and Brayden has a chance to score.

I begin to scrum with a Capital by the benches. I'm too fired up to catch a number and it's only for a split second. Then Oshie gets sandwiched hard between Ceddy and Big Rig! A huge scrum ensues including Oshie losing his helmet.

Whistles blow and the refs rush to break things up.

Tempers are evident as both of us want to spark our team and gain the lead. Almost immediately after that scrum, there is another incident with Gudas, Pickles and Goodrow. And then Johnny, Killer, Tony get into a massive one.

Tony REALLY wants a piece of Tom Wilson. Can't say that I blame him, but everyone just about wants to deck the big asshole.

And so we come to the final buzzer with nothing breaking the tie. Just some solid chances for both teams.

Into Overtime this game goes. Kuch takes a holding penalty at the end of it, after a nice faceoff win from Mitchell. (As I said, he's impressive for a rookie!)

And so we head to the shootout.

Heddy begins and doesn't score.

Oshie goes for the Caps and manages to score one. He comes back by the bench and winks at me. "Told you, Gourde."

I make to get to my feet, but I'm held down in place by Pat Maroon and Killer. (Hate that guy!)

So Brayden is up. I watch as he takes the puck, slowly, skillfully and then he slaps a shot past Holtby!

YES!

Kuznetsov follows up. But he doesn't score.

Then it's Kuch.

Kuch, of course, angry and full of desire to win, scores.

So it's 2-1 in the shootout.

One more stop it needed to end it. And we can win.

Kuch comes back to the bench and sits down. He gets a sip of water and then, as Backstrom takes the ice, he shouts out, "STOP HIM VASY! STOP HIM!" (Well, I'm guessing he says this. I don't speak Russian lol)

Backstrom takes the puck.

Shoots at Vasy.

Vasy easily stops him with a pad and the game is over!

Bolts win 3-2!

"YES!! SUCK IT OVI!" Kuch screams, jumping up to his feet and leaning over the railing.

"Alright, you, settle down. Be classy," Killer chuckles.

We pour onto the ice to congratulate Vasy and I get filled in about what happened to the score when I was gone.