Problems With Love

Chapter 45

Raanta's POV

It's finally game time. I'm in net tonight. I'm zone out and focus on the game during the anthem.

It's time for puck drop. Toews wins the faceoff and passes to Saad. Saad takes it down and passes to Hossa. Hossa shoots but its blocked.

It's a continuous battle the whole game. Theres a minute left we're down by 1. I keep looking towards the bench to see when I get pulled. 55 seconds. They call me to the bench and I skate as fast as I can. We have the extra attacker. 40 seconds. Saad gets the puck and passes to Kane. He passes to Teuvo who shoots but it's blocked by Fleury. Saad gets the rebound and shoots but again it's blocked. 20 seconds. Kane gets the rebound this time and fakes a shot and passes to Saad. 10 seconds. Saad shoots. 5 seconds. It feels like slow motion but the puck soars past Fluery glove side. The UC erupts. Everyone on the bench jumps up. The goal starts blaring owed by Chelsea Dagger. With 5 seconds left Brandon Saad scores tying the game at 2.

They drop the puck again but the horn shortly follows. Off to overtime.

The puck drops. Crosby wins the face off. He passes to Malkin. Malkin takes it to the blue line and passes back to Crosby. He shoots but I block it. Bennett gets the rebound. He passes back to Malkin. He passes to Crosby. Crosby passes back to Bennett.

"1 minute remaining in overtime 1 minute!" The announcer announced.

You can do it Antti. Just hold them off for one more minute. You got this.
With 35 seconds left Bennett shoots glove side. I reach for it but it flys past and hits the back of the net. The Penguins won. I let them score. It's all my fault.

I skate off the ice with my head down while the Penguins celebrate.

I don't say much in the locker room as we change. Then the media is allowed in. I groan. I don't want them talking to me.

Of course they all swarm me. "What was going through you're head those last 60 seconds?" one asks. "I was just thinking that I have to hold them off, that I can't let any in. Then we can go to a shootout and possibly win it," I reply. "Since Darling is back up do you worry about staying here in Chicago?" another one asks. That one hurt. Why would you ask that? I'm the reason we just lost. Do they want me to feel worse about myself? "After tonight yeah a little. I let 3 goals in and the third one was the game winner and Scott probably would've blocked it," I say looking at my feet. The reporters were silent. That's the last question they ask.

I don't even know how I made it to the NHL honestly. I suck.

Kristen's POV

I notice Antti looks really upset. I walk up to him. "Hey Raanta are you okay?" I ask sitting down next to him. "No," he says quietly. "What's wrong?" I ask giving him a side hug. "I just suck. That's all," he says. "Who says you suck?" I ask feeling really sorry for him. "Me and everyone else," he responds. "Well I don't think you suck," I tell him truthfully. "Thanks," he smiles. "I'm gonna go get some food after? Wanna come with me and we can talk?" I offer. "Sure," he says. "Ok I'll meet you outside in a bit."

I walk out of the locker room and sit on the floor on my phone for a bit. Then Brandon comes out and talks to me. "Hey," he says. "Hi," I smile back. "So do you wanna do something?" He asks. "Um maybe tomorrow. I already have plans. Raanta seems like really depressed and is beating himself up for the loss and I'm gonna talk to him before it gets bad," I explain quietly so others don't hear. "That's a good idea. We both know what happens when it gets bad," he says. "Yeah true," I say. "It happened to me and Bollig," I add. "And me," Brandon says. I look at him confused. "I'll tell you tomorrow," he says as Raanta walks out of the locker room.

Raanta's POV

"Wanna go anywhere specific?" Kristen asks. "I don't care just like fast food or something because I'm not that hungry," I say. "That's exactly what I was thinking!" she laughs. "How about Culver's?" I suggest. "Sounds good," Kristen responds pulling into the parking lot.

We go inside and order and find a seat. Shortly after our food comes out.

"So what's up?" Kristen asks. "I just feel like it's my fault that we lost and the reporters asked a question that gave me a really bad thought," I explain. "Well what'd they ask?" Kristen asks. "Something like if I was scared that Scott was gonna replace me and I'm gonna go back down to Rockford," I say staring at the table. Kristen nearly chocked. "What are you talking about?! Actually what are they talking about?!!!" "I don't know but I think they might be right. I suck." "Antti what are you talking about?! You're amazing!" she tells me. "Yeah right. I suck," I say practically in tears. "No you don't! Don't tell yourself that Antti. Don't get me wrong Scott is an amazing goalie, but I'd take you over him any day," she tells me. "Thanks," I smile. "But he's not the reason we lost tonight, I am." "No it's not! We lost because the whole OT we couldn't get the puck out of the zone. They were gonna score eventually. Even on Corey or Scott. Quit beating yourself up. You played amazing tonight and you know it," she smiles. "Thanks Kristen," I say as she hugs me.

We laugh on the drive back to the UC so I can get my car. This is really wrong but I think I'm falling for Kristen.

A/N sorry for a terrible update. I've literally been so busy lately with school. Plus I'm having terrible writers block. help!! Btw IM NOT HATING ON RAANTA!!!! I REPEAT I AM NOT HATING ON RAANTA!!!! Tbh I love him sooooooo much and I want him to stay in Chicago for as long as possible. He's an amazing goalie and compared to last year he's improved so much. He works so hard and deserves to play on the NHL. What I wrote was just for the story! Also I was going through some of my other chapters and soooooo many typos😂im so sorry guys!! Also do you even like the story? I feel like no one reads my story anymore