Melting the Ice

EIGHTEEN

DREW’S TEAM HAD THREE GAMES IN BETWEEN CHRISTMAS and New Year’s Eve. The break had been great, but his head was fully in game mode again. Winning at least one game on the road had helped. Maybe the break had been good for them, because he felt fired up and ready to kick some ass.

Tonight they were playing Colorado, they were back in the Garden, and they were all confident this would be the push they needed to start on a winning streak.

He loved being out on the home ice. Loved the smell of it, the way he knew every corner of it, and the way the home crowd fans got into the game with their noise.

When they took the ice for introductions, the home crowd went crazy. Drew soaked in all the energy. It fueled him for game time. He wished Carolina could be here, but he knew she was deep in her work, just like him. He hadn’t even asked her because he didn’t want to put her on the spot.

Besides, he had a date with her tomorrow night. He smiled as he skated around the ice for warm-ups. Tomorrow was his night with Carolina.

Tonight was his night to beat up on Colorado.

Trick took the face-off, and Drew waited, his body poised to go after the puck as soon as it dropped. Trick flipped it toward Colorado’s side, and Drew skated after it, Colorado’s defender shoving into him before he could get to the net. On the defensive, Drew hustled after him. Fortunately, the Travelers defense was right there to protect the net and Kozlow fought for the puck.

Drew had every confidence in Avery Mangino, the Travelers goalie, but he much preferred to be at the other end of the Garden, trying to shove the puck in Colorado’s net. So when Kozlow slid the puck their way, he and Trick volleyed it back and forth, then Trick passed it to Litman while Drew skated down the ice, beating Colorado’s defenders to get in position.

He took the pass from Litman and launched a shot at the net, deflected by the goalie.

Damn.

By the end of the first period, they were scoreless.

Unacceptable.

Colorado was good. But they were better.

In the second period, it was just as intense, with a lot of shots on goal by both teams and nothing to show for it. Time was ticking down and when Colorado got called for high-sticking, that gave the Travelers a power play.

This was their chance to make a charge at the goal. With Trick just past center, Drew and Litman drove down the ice with the puck, passing it to Trick, who volleyed it to Sayers. Drew got into position, shoving the defender out of the way just in time to receive the pass. He took a shot and swung it into the net.

They’d scored! Elated, they gathered to celebrate for a few seconds, and then it was back to work.

By the third period, they were up two to nothing, but Colorado was driving, holding them deep in their own end. Trick got a two-minute penalty, so that left them short on a power play.

It was time to dig deep and hold Colorado scoreless.

Sweat dripping down his face and back, Drew was determined to keep his focus on two of Colorado’s players. He dug in his skates and worked them, moving double time as they worked the net trying to score. He slung the puck down to Colorado’s side, but they quickly doubled up on him and forced it back down the ice. Kozlow pushed into the defender and wrestled for the puck. Kozlow won that battle, and shucked it to Drew. He skated away with the puck like he’d stolen it.

Fighting for breath, he moved as fast as he could to stay ahead of the Colorado players who were just as desperate to get hold of the puck as he was to keep it. At Colorado’s net, they jumbled up, a tangle of bodies and sticks wrestling for the prize. Drew took a shot and Colorado’s goalie swept it into his glove.

Damn. They went back toward the Travelers net. Drew took a quick look at the clock. Still too damn much time left on Trick’s penalty and Colorado was hungry.

They surrounded the Travelers net and then it was a free-for-all, a mass of players shoving in sticks to grab the puck. Drew saw a shot on goal, and when Avery came up with the puck in his hand, Drew expelled a giant sigh of relief.

By then the power play was over, and time was ticking down to end the third period. Normal play resumed, and though Colorado fought hard to score, they ended the game without getting the puck in the net. The Travelers won, and the team celebrated by high-fiving at center ice.

Drew was exhilarated, exhausted, and ready to eat a twelve-ounce steak. So were the rest of the guys. They planned to shower, do their media interviews, and they were all going to meet at the steakhouse for dinner.

He dressed and grabbed his phone, surprised to find a text message from Carolina.

Amazing game. You kicked butt. Congratulations!

He dialed her number. She answered on the second ring.

“I thought you’d be out celebrating.”

He grinned. “On my way. You saw the game?”

“Yes. I was doing some minor beadwork at home, so I had the game on while I worked. Though I have to admit for a while there, I was riveted to the television. Nice goal, by the way.”

“Thanks. I would have invited you to the game. I wanted you to come, but I figured you were going to be busy.”

“I am busy. Which doesn’t mean I can’t catch your games on TV. I just wanted to let you know I was cheering you on.”

He took in a deep breath. “Thanks for that.”

“You’re welcome. Now go enjoy your celebration.”

“Okay. I’ll call you tomorrow. Don’t work too hard.”

“I’ll try not to. Good night, Drew.”

“Night, Lina.”

He hung up, and grinned.

“What the hell, man? Get up and let’s get going. I’m starving here.”

“Yeah, yeah.” He put on his shoes and followed Trick out the door.