NHL Imagines

Since High School (Mat Barzal x Reader)

"Entering the final minute of play." The announcer said and you could feel your heartrate begin to pick up.

The Islanders were up by one and the Sharks had pulled their goalie. With less and sixty seconds of play left in the game, you were on the edge of your seat hoping that the Islanders would be able to run the time down, stop as many pucks from getting to their net and try to get some shots on the Sharks' empty net. If the Islanders could get an empty net goal, they would win the game and the Cup for sure.

With nothing to lose and the extra attacker, the Sharks were throwing everything they had at the Islanders and Lehner. The Islanders hadn't had a chance to change lines in a while. Mat had been on the ice for almost five minutes.

Twenty seconds left on the clock and Mat intercepted a pass from the Sharks' and shot the puck down the ice. You couldn't help yourself from shooting up from your seat as you watched as the puck crossed the Sharks' goal line. A buzzer sounded and you screamed in celebration.

Fifteen seconds left in the game and the Islanders were now up by two in game six of the Stanley Cup final. The Islanders were going to win the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1983.

The fifteen seconds ran out and you could have sworn you never had a bigger smile than you did at that moment. You watched as the Islanders, your boyfriend, Mat, and his best friend, Tito, included, piled onto each other in celebration. The Sharks looked completely defeated, but you didn't care. All that mattered was that the Islanders had won the Cup.

Still high on adrenalin, the Islanders lined up to shake the hands of the Sharks. And then you watched as the carpet was laid out and the Stanley Cup was brought out. You watched as the Cup was presented to the Islanders and Anders Lee hoisted it with a big smile.

You watched as the Cup was passed to the other players. As Mat took the Cup and raised it above his head before passing it to Tito.

In that moment, Mat had achieved everything he wanted. Well, almost everything.

Mat had achieved his childhood dream of playing professional hockey, and he got to live that dream with his best friend. And now they together had won the Stanley Cup, the thing that every hockey player dreams of hoisting.

And Mat had you.

You and him had been together since high school. You were there with him through everything, including the NHL draft and his first game and the World Juniors. You were there with him and he loved you more than he had the words to tell you.

He couldn't imagine not having you in his life.

So, when you stepped on the ice with all the other family members after having ran from your seat down the familiar halls of the Coliseum down towards the ice, the words just slipped out of his mouth.

Mat skated over to you with a big smile on his face and picked you up. You laughed happily and wrapped your legs around Mat's waist, his hands holding your ass as you looped your arms around his neck before kissing him deeply.

As soon as he pulled back from the kiss, the words slipped from his lips, and he meant them with every ounce of his being.

"Marry me."

You pulled back in surprise. "What?"

Mat gently put you back down onto the ice, keeping his hands on your hips. "Marry me. I never want to be without you. I want to be by your side for the rest of my life. I love you and I'll never stop loving you, so marry me." Mat said, bringing his hands up to cup your cheeks. "Marry me."

"Yes." You breathed without hesitation and Mat smiled before pressing his lips to yours again, this time softer.

Mat pulled back from the kiss and opened his mouth to say something, but Tito clapped him on the shoulder, cutting him off. You gave Mat a soft smile.

"Go." You whispered to him and he nodded, letting go of your waist to go be with the team.

In that moment, Mat had everything he could ever want.