Patins et pilules

Chapitre 25

Liam

18 avril

We're standing on our blue line for the national anthem and Jay is next to me. He's constantly moving his legs back and forth and it's getting on my nerves. I whisper to him.

- You're supposed to stay still for this, dude!

- I know, I just can't stop! Must be my anxiety...

- Relax man, do your breathing thing. I'm getting anxious myself because of you.

He's closing his eyes and I see that he's trying to slow down his breathing. I know that it works for him and his legs aren't moving as much. He taught me some of the techniques he learned from the psychologist so that I can remind him if needed. I should say that I use it myself sometimes but I won't admit it to him.

I can understand why he's nervous though. The last time he played in the playoffs was 3 years ago. He didn't get to play with us last year and we didn't make it to the playoffs the year before. Tonight, we're in Toronto for the 4th game of the series. We won the first two games in Montreal but we lost the last game here 2 days ago. Tonight's game is crucial, if we lose, everything is even but if we win, we'll get a chance to finish it the day after tomorrow in front of our crazy and overtly supportive fans. Our line has been doing pretty good in the last 3 games, I guess that's why we're starting tonight, that's one of Coach Champagne's way of rewarding his players. Jay and I both scored 2 times in the last 3 games and PO, who's still our centerman, also has 1 goal.

Since Toronto has the last line change, we played against Dylan Comeau's line for all the game 2 days ago. He's on the ice right now so I guess it won't change tonight. This guy can certainly play hockey but he's known more across the league for his trash talk and these games aren't an exception. He plays center and he doesn't know PO very well so he's unloading it on Jay and I every time he gets a chance.

We're on the middle of the 3rd period right now and we're leading 4-2. I scored the 3rd goal after another of Jay's spectacular pass, this one from behind. Niklas scored 2 goals and Olli scored the other one when he deviated a shot from Zack Adams. Comeau has been the worst ever and I swear I'm about to lose my temper against him. I don't know what's going on with PO tonight but he had troubles with his draws and Coach Champagne asked Jay to take them since the beginning of the 2nd period. Comeau seems really happy about it and finds something new to say to Jay each time they're face to face:

"How a bust like you ended up with a 6,5 millions per year deal?"

"Will you go on strike if you play under 20 minutes tonight?"

"Never seen someone softer than you are, you're always injured poor baby"

"You wouldn't be on the Canadiens and not even on the NHL if you didn't speak French"

"Are you still Champagne's pet like you were in the juniors?"

"Did you complain to your coach again at practice today little princess?"

"Will you take pills again the next time you fight with your girlfriend?"

Usually, Jay doesn't reply. He's used to this kind of speeches. But the last comment comes with a cross check on Jay's head and he reacts immediately by pushing Comeau on the ice and cross checking him twice on the head, to the point where he loses his helmet. Trevor Hudson, Comeau's linemate and their captain, wants to dance with me and I'm always up for a little action so I let my gloves fall.

The referees are quick to come between Jay and Comeau and between me and Hudson so nothing more really happens. They send us all to the penalty box. The referee announces a game misconduct for me and Hudson, a minor penalty for Comeau and a major penalty for Jay. I think it's Jay's first major penalty in his whole NHL career. Then she announces that they're going to review the play. I'm staying in the tunnel that leads to the locker room and I hear that they decided to give a game misconduct to Jay as well. He comes to join me and we're both hilarious as we're entering the locker room.