Hub City Horrors (Diary of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs)

Yanni Gourde's Diary: Tuesday, August 11, 2020

Toronto, Canada

Eastern Conference, Hotel X

My line and I are on the ice to start off the game. When I first heard the news break that we were getting a rematch with the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round, I was honestly excited. A few others were hesitant, thinking of last year, but most of us were eager and ready to exact revenge (even if we say it's not revenge haha)

There is a penalty to us (dammit, Killer...) almost right away and we head to the PK. On the ensuing powerplay for Columbus, Alexandre Texier gets the puck and slams it down to the net, where it is tipped passed Vasy and into the net by Pierre-Luc Dubois.

0-1 Blue Jackets...

It's not the start we want. At all.

But we respond with some push into the zone, until it finally ends in Kuch getting a goal (or Pointer) -- I really can't see who's scoring today haha. But either way, it's a tie fucking game now!!

1-1.

Back and forth action proceeds the goal. And it ends with Vasy making a key stop on Jenner.

I'm back on the ice soon after that and as the clock winds down to ten minutes (halfway), I take the puck away from a Blue Jacket player and launch into the zone for a chance to score. I dish it to Pickles, but we go for a line change and watch as more back and forth action happens. (You know, us in the zone and then in the zone.)

Before long, I'm back on the ice and taking the faceoff. I'm tossed from the dot. I enter the zone though and round behind the net. I turn to get a pass off to Heddy, who I hear calling loudly for it.

I guess I wait a second too long, because as I get it off, Heddy is covered and the puck is back in Blue Jacket hands. I groan and launch off to pick the puck back off, managing to do so and getting it to the blue line point for a d-men, before heading off the ice once more for a line change.

Jeff Halpern (or Halpie), one of our many coaching staff patrons, comes over to chat with me about the incident. I explain to him about what my thoughts were and he pats me. He tells me what I can do differently, maybe one-time the puck instead of hesitating until the player gets covered and a turnover happens.

I watch as we pour on pressure, taking control of the zone and generating momentum galore. Tony shoves Texier to the ice and I can see the young man get back up, wincing and looking around briefly.

Easy, Tony. We're not here to hurt them physically, just on the scoreboard.

Mitchell, Maroon and Ceddy take the ice for a dominating, grinding shift behind and around the net.

I return to the ice and create a takeaway, heading back into the zone. There is a collision around the net and then the Blue Jackets are buzzing around our end. I'm crossing the ice to make a play before Vasy, when I feel a stick come up and get me in the face.

I shake it off, but the play is whistled dead.

I spin around and see the ref gesturing toward Texier.

A penalty for high-sticking is called on him. They show a replay and I can see that Texier is skating behind me, but his stick doesn't seem to touch me. But he heads to the bench to take his penalty, hanging his head down with shame and embarrassment.

Poor guy.

Even I'll admit that I didn't see him do anything. He shouldn't be in there. It was a happy accident from our own player. Luckily the friendly fire was just a little stinging slap against my cheek, nothing major.