Quest For Yzerchuk 3: The YIPs

Prologue- Playoff Time (Do It For Stammer and Stralsy)

The Tampa Bay Lightning enter the 2015-2016 Playoffs with renewed energy. Knowing that the despicable Montreal Canadiens are out makes everyone a lot more relaxed and at ease. Vladislav Namestnikov is the most relaxed as he gets out of his car, closes the door and leans against the exterior of the vehicle.

He tilts his head up and looks at the bright blue Florida sky above. "Thanks Hockey Gods. Thanks for keeping Montreal out. It's a good day!" He smiles, watching a cloud pass by, overhead. His smile fades as the cloud blocks out the sun.

Suddenly someone slips up beside him and pokes him in the side. "VLADDY!"

Vladdy jumps and slowly looks to the side to find Jonathan Drouin standing with a big smile on his face. At first, he is rattled again and lifts Yzerchuk up, pointing it at his friend, threateningly. "Jo, you know not to do that!" He gradually relaxes, dropping his arms down before him, along with Yzerchuk.

Drouin nods, rolling his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, your mom knows not to do that!" He returns to smiling. "Anyway, Galchenyuk has something for you inside! He wouldn't tell me what it was...said it was a surprise for you!"

"What for? It's not my birthday."

"No, no, it's for healing him," Drouin responds with a sweet smile and then grabs Vladdy by the shoulders and shoves him toward the player entrance of the loading dock. "Come on man, you have to do a little work here..."

Vladdy rolls his eyes and begins to walk on his own toward the locker room with Drouin, skipping along to his side. "Must you skip like a little girl?"

Drouin shrugs and continues on skipping. "I like to skip, Vladdy." He leads the blond Russian into the hallway and then into the locker room, where Galchenyuk is sitting in his stall, smiling. He glances up at their arrival. "Well, it wasn't easy, but I got him!"

Vladdy snorts. "What's up Chucky?"

Galchenyuk gets to his feet and comes over. He has on his skates and equipment as though ready to play. "I just really want to say thank you. It was no accident you healed me. Yzerchuk only heals Bolts players as you've said. Yzerman told me he'd gotten the trade before the third period. That means that I was a Bolt when I got injured."

"Which explains how Yzerchuk and I were able to heal you."

"Yeah. Now I know you're not a big drinker, no one but Patrick Kane and that party hound in Dallas, but I figured it'd be nice. And I know you love the Russian vodka..." He pulls out a bottle of "Russian Standard" vodka and passes it to Vladdy. "Just don't give any to Kuch...or Killer."

"Of course not. It's my vodka!" Vladdy teases. "A Russian is very protective of their vodka!" He passes Drouin Yzerchuk and takes the bottle with both hands, smiling. "How'd you know this kind was my favorite?"

"I told him, Vladdy," a familiar voice responds with a chuckle.

Vladdy spins around and his smile widens. "Stammer."

"Look the others should be here soon and I've got a pep talk in store for everyone," Steven remarks, a glitter in his eye. "In less than 10 hours, you all have the first game against Detroit and I am expecting you all to be on your game!"

Galchenyuk looks at his new captain. "I'll do anything I can to help this team out!"

"Me too!" Drouin exclaims, putting his hands on his hips, while still holding Yzerchuk.

"And you can bet your ass Yzerchuk and I will!" Vladdy proclaims with a wink.

"Yes, yes, I know you three will do me proud. But, I want you to know something...if you thought Gallagher was bad, Vladdy, you're in store for someone named Justin Abdelkader. He is twice as worse and nasty. I need to tell everyone to behave and ignore him and just play their game. He may play dirty and hit hard in this series and I want everyone to be reminded about just the type of player he is."

Vladdy looks at Drouin and then at Galchenyuk. "I think we'll be fine. Besides if anything, Boyle or Paqy or Cally even can kick his ass!"

Steven laughs. "Just remember, stick to the game plan and don't let him into your head."

Two hours later...

The practice ends with Vladdy getting the last laugh and FINALLY getting a goal on Bishop. They head off the ice to the locker room and get ready to take off, but not before a freshly showered Ryan Callahan walks into the room with Stralman, Steven, Victor, and Boyle at his sides.

Vladdy is sitting with Drouin, Marchessault and Galchenyuk. He looks up as they enter.

"Alright ladies," Callahan begins.

"Okay, easy there Cally, that's not how you address your 'manly' teammates," Steven laughs.

"That's how I would if I were captain, Stammer," Callahan retorts with a shrug. "Gets their attentions, eh?"

"In a bad way," Drouin sighs.

"Exactly," Galchenyuk remarks. "And that's how Subban used to get our attentions...in Montreal..." He flashes an awkward smile. "I don't think you wanna be like him. Or like Montreal."

"OF COURSE NOT!" Victor snaps. "This is Tampa, not Montreal!"

Stralman puts a hand on Victor's shoulder. "Calm down Victor, he's making a point. No need to get defensive."

"Funny, Strals."

"Anyway," Steven says, clearing his throat to speak. "Cally, Boyle and Heddy are going to be the leaders here, while I am absent."

"And me too!" Stralman says.

"That means, we gotta win this thing for Stammer and Stralsy!" Boyle declares.

Vladdy smiles. "For Stammer and Stralsy!"