Saturday, June 28, 2008

Staal [A Jordan Staal Story] Thirty-Six

"Hey Staalsy."
"Yea what`s up Army?"
"What do you think our chances of wining this are?"
"The game tonight or the series?"
"Either."
"I don`t know, both you guys & the Hawks are great teams & you`ve proved that to this point. I`m not one to make predictions so let`s just sit back & see how it all turns out."
"Alright, thanks Staalsy."
"No problem, good luck tonight."
"You too."
"A Chicago goal scored by Jonathan Toews assisted by Dave Bolland & James Wisniewski at 15:36, Toews from Bolland & Wisniewski at 15:36," The PA announcer in Pittsburgh said.
The Hawks had taken a 1-0 lead but that didn`t dampen the Guins mood, they still skated hard & made crisp passes. One of those passes that was made in the neutral zone was intercepted & taken back to the Guins zone.
"A Chicago goal scored by Cam Barker assisted by Rene Bourque at 18:56, Barker from Bourque at 18:56."
"Well Bourquey it`s the end of one & the Hawks have a 2-0 lead over the Guins."
"That`s true Staalsy but there`s still a lot of hockey left to be played."
Top start the period Kris Versteeg took a hooking call at 5:00. Staal`s line was out to take the face-off, to change it up Max took center & won the face-off. After some cycling they finally shot & it went passed the Hawks goaltender.
"A Pittsburgh goal scored by number twelve Ryan Malone assisted by Jordan Staal & Max Talbot at 5:24, Malone from Staal & Talbot at 5:24."
Somehow Patrick Sharp managed to stuff the biscuit between the post & Fleury`s pad when he was down in the butterfly position to give the Hawks a 3-1 lead.
"A Chicago goal scored by Patrick Sharp assisted by Martin Havlat & Jason Williams at 10:03, Sharp from Havlat & Williams at 10:03."
"A Chicago goal scored by Patrick Kane assisted by Brent Seabrook & Duncan Keith at 13:08, Kane from Seabrook & Keith at 13:08."
"One minute remaining in the period, one minute."
The whistle blew & Jordan was slowly getting up from the ice. The trainer came out to help him up & handed him a towel. Everyone clapped as he skated to the runway & quickly went to the locker room. The ref went to the box & indicated the penalty.
"A Chicago penalty to Patrick Kane four minutes for high sticking at 19:13, Kane four for high sticking at 19:13."
Up in the commentator’s box it had just gone to a commercial & Miriya awaited the start of the third period.
"The Penguins make a whole sale change & the Staal line is out. Well Bourquey it looks like he`s fine & will just have another scar. He shoots, he scores Jordan Staal, he comes back from an injury to get the Guins back in the game."
"A Pittsburgh goal scored by number eleven Jordan Staal assisted by number nineteen Ryan Whitney & number forty-four Brooks Orpik at :48, Staal from Whitney & Orpik at :48."
The game ended with the Hawks winning 6-4 with an empty-netter by Kris Versteeg at 19:36. The two other Penguins' goals were both even strength & scored by Tyler Kennedy & Sidney Crosby. Chicago's fifth goal was scored by Adam Burish at 15:02 from Jonathan Toews & Patrick Sharp.
Miriya & Bourquey stayed in the booth & did the post game which somehow was longer than usual & they did some paper work. Once all the paperwork was done Miriya went down to the locker room & Jordan was already showered & waiting by his stall.
"You`re late," Jordan said putting his arms around her.
"I didn`t know I had a set time that I had to be here."
"You don`t, but you`re normally down here earlier."
"I know, I`m sorry baby, I had some paperwork to do."
They head out to the bus & went back to the hotel. They changed into their pajamas, brushed their teeth & got into bed.
"You played amazing baby," she said & kissed his cheek.
"I love you," he said & put his forehead against hers. She ran her hand along his cheek.
"Ahh," he said quickly pulling away.
"Baby I`m sorry," she said & kissed him then briefly pulled away, "Better?"
He pressed his lips back against hers, "Mmhmm," he said into the kiss & smiled.
"Well then Mr. Staal I take it we`re not gonna get much sleep tonight?"
"Nope," he said with a sly smile as she slid his shirt over his head.
"Good evening everyone & welcome to game two of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Pittsburgh Penguins & the Chicago Black Hawks."
"Well Staalsy the Guins are coming off a 6-4 loss the other night to this Hawks team."
"But it`s not because of a lack of hard work, I talked to the team this morning & they`re ready for this game."
"A Chicago goal scored by Rene Bourque..." The PA announcer said at 16:59 of the first period.
"Bourque's goal gives the Hawks a 1-0 lead, but Bourquey you know that the Guins have been a great come from behind team for the last seven or eight years."
"A Chicago penalty Rene Bourque two minutes for tripping at 4"30.
"He shots & scores, what a beautiful goal," Miriya said just twenty-seven seconds into the power play. "Scuderi ties it up at one at 4:57 of the second."
"A Pittsburgh goal scored by Rob Scuderi assisted by James McGuire & Marc-Andre Fleury at 4:57..."
"He shoots & it`s in, Evgeni Malkin gives the Pens a 2-1 lead."
"Staalsy you said it before, they`re a good come from behind team & in less than a minute they get two goals to take the lead."
"A Pittsburgh goal scored by Evgeni Malkin assisted by Mark Eaton at 5:42, Malkin from Eaton at 5:42"
To finish the game the Guins scored two more goals, Kris Letang from Brooks Orpik at 14:16 of the second & Ryan Whitney on the power play unassisted at 12:33 of the third. They left the arena with at 4-1 win & the next day headed to Pittsburgh with the series tied at one.
"Jordan Staal at 19:38, Talbot from Malone & Staal at 19:38."
"A beautiful save made by Fleury," Bourquey interrupted Miriya`s call of the game.
"But the rebound gets passed him & the Hawks tie it up at one at 13:13. David Koci from Cam Barker & Dustin Byfuglien."
"Armstrong has the biscuit in his own end, almost off-sides on himself. Drop pass to Malkin, Malkin slap shot, blocker stop, rebound Sidney Crosby, he shoots & scores. Sidney Crosby gives the Penguins a 2-1 lead at 17:35 of the second," Miriya said.
"At 8:16, Bolland from Wisnieski & Keith at 8:16."
"Well Staalsy the game is tied at two & when we come back it`s overtime between the Pens & Hawks."
"A Chicago goal scored by Kris Versteeg from Cam Barker at 3:15..."
"Well folks that`s it for tonight the next game is here in Chicago Friday night, until then goodnight," Bourquey said.
The next day Miriya & Jordan slept in & spent the day at home watching movies from when they were growing up. Cassie, Geno, Sid & Michelle went out to lunch. They were sitting in a booth waiting for their food.
"So what do you guys wanna do today?" Sid asked.
"Well we`re going to Miriya & Jordan`s for dinner, but before that I have no idea" Geno said.
"You know what I haven`t done in a long time," Michelle said as the waitress set the food on the table.
"Nope," Cassie said.
"Bowling," she said with a smile.
That`s what they did, after they were finished eating they head to the local bowling alley. It was the third frame & Sid walked up & grabbed his neon green ball. He put some spin on it, but it was a little too much & it went into the gutter about halfway down the lane.
"It`s ok baby you still have another turn," Michelle said & gave him a hug as they waited for his ball.
He picked it up, slid his fingers into the holes, & went to roll, somehow his foot slipped out from under him & the next thing he knew he was sitting & the ball was rolling down the lane.
"I don`t know how you did that, but I`m sure it hurt," Geno said trying to hold back his laughter.
"It did hurt," he said with a laugh. "I have no idea how that happened."
They finished their game, Geno won & went to Miriya & Jordan`s house for dinner. 'Ding Dong' 'BARK, BARK' Mo can up to the door & started jumping up & down.
"Mo get down," Jordan said opening the door. "Oh hey guys come on in, Miriya`s in the kitchen finishing up dinner."
Once everything was ready everyone sat down in the dinning room for dinner.
"So how was your day today?" Geno asked.
"Good, we slept in & watched movies," Jordan said.
"Did you actually watch them or did you 'watch' them?" Cassie asked making air quotes.
"Believe it or not we saw the whole movie," Miriya said with a smile. "How `bout you guys?"
"We went bowling," Cassie said putting food on her plate.
"Geno won & Sid fell on his ass," Michelle said & laughed.
"It`s a good thing our chairs are padded huh Sid?" Jordan asked with a smirk.
The next day, Thursday they went to the airport & were on their way to the windy city to take on the Hawks in game four.
"I sure enjoyed my two days off Staalsy did you?"
"I did Bourquey, hello everyone & welcome to game four of the Stanley Cup Finals. The Hawks lead the series 2-1 but the Guins have been playing well."
Crush's stick went across a Hawk's stick & it broke, a Penguin got a hold of the puck & the ref blew the whistle, "Two minutes for slashing."
"Well Staalsy we`re forty seconds into the power play, Malkin`s penalty kill line is out & the face-off is in the Guins zone."
"What is the Bourquey, Kennedy is going to take the face-off."
"The Penguins have something up their sleeves right now."
"He wins the draw, carries it up, cross ice pass, Malkin one timer. He shoots & scores Evgeni Malkin gives the Penguins a 1-0 lead with a short handed goal at 4:30."
"A Chicago goal scored by Duncan Keith assisted by Brent Seabrook & Adam Burish, Keith from Seabrook & Burish at 6:13," the PA announcer said early in the second.
Nine minutes later they did it again taking the lead at 15:29, Patrick Kane took a slapper & put it behind Fleury, Patrick Sharp & Dustin Byguglien assisted.
Chicago scored again at 3:34 of the third, Jason Williams from Jonathan Toews & Cam Barker. But at 4:30 Keith put Letang into the sailing hard into the boards. He was slow getting up but when he did everyone clapped & he skated slowly to the bench.
"A Pittsburgh goal scored by number six James McGuire assisted by Marc-Andre Fleury at 5:04, McGuire from Fleury at 5:04 a power play goal."
Five minutes later at 10:43 the Guins got another goal to tie it up at three with help form Jordan Staal. With a little less than a minute left Fleury went to the bench so that they could have an extra attacker out. Rene Bourque scored an unassisted empty-net goal at 19:42 to take game four & to lead the series 3-1.
It was back to Pittsburgh that night & the next day was game five, the only first period goal was scored by Rene Bourque from Dustin Byguglien at 5:39.
"A Pittsburgh goal scored by number three Mark Eaton assisted by number nineteen Ryan Whitney & number thirty Dany Sabourin at 6:26, Eaton from Whitney & Sabourin at 6:26," John Barbaroe said in the second period as the sell-out crowd sat back down.
"Two minutes holding the stick," the ref said as Tuomo Ruutu skated to the sin bin at 13:00.
"Kennedy from Hall & Christensen at 13:13, a power play goal."
The Guins came away with their second win of the series to make it 3-2. Game six was going to take place in Chicago on Tuesday which meant that they had a day of rest & day of travel. On the day off nothing super exciting happened, the guys all got together at the arena to work on stuff to get their momentum going into the next game.
"Baby I`m gonna go," Jordan said as Miriya roller out of bed at nine that morning.
"Where you going?" she asked walking into the bathroom.
"They guys, we all thought we should get together & use our day off to practice & keep out momentum."
"I wanna come," she said with a smile.
"Alright, I`m gonna grab something to eat, I`ll meet you in the car in like ten minutes."
"Kay," she said walking to her dresser as Jordan went out to the kitchen. She put on a pair of shorts & a Guins t-shirt, which was her normal practice clothes & appropriate for the warm weather that awaited her outside. After putting on a pair of flip flops & grabbing a pair of socks she went out to the kitchen, grabbed a banana & went out to the car.
The makeshift practice went well & ended at somewhere around twelve. A bunch of people decided to go to Eat `n Park to get lunch.
"So Sid where`s Michelle?" Miriya asked.
"At home, she was asleep when I left."
"So what do you think of the series now?" Army asked.
"Like I said before I don't make predictions, we'll see what happens. there`s two game left and you're down in the series, but you're a great come back team. If the Hawks don't win Tuesday then we'll find out on Thursday now won't we."
"I guess so," Geno said.
The next day they went to Chicago, they got there at around one and went off to do their own things for the rest of the day. To start the game Tumo Ruutu scored an unassisted goal at 4:56 of the first. Sidney Crosby tied it up at 10:55 of the first with help from Evgeni Malkin and Colby Armstrong. The Guins took the lead at 41:20 of the second with Evgeni Malkin scored from his knee with Sidney Crosby and James McGuire. But the Hawks tied it up at two at 11:07, Kris Versteeg scored with help from Patrick Kane and Tumo Ruutu.
"A Pittsburgh goal scored by Brooks Orpik from Kris Letang and Marc- Andre Fleury at 1:04, Orpik from Letang and Fleury at 1:04"
But the Hawks tied it up again at 5:56 a goal by Patrick Sharp from Cam Barker and Duncan Keith. Only a minute later the Hawks took the lead when Adam Burish scored with help from Dave Bolland and Brent Sea back at 7:07. With a little lest then four minutes left Ryan Whitney found a space between the goalies pad and the side post pushing the puck in at 16:15, Mark Eaton and Ryan Malone received the assist. And at the end of a back and forth regulation game was tied at 4-4.
"This year's playoffs have been filled with over time games. the dramatic came seven that the Penguins here went into triple overtime and would have went to a forth but Brooks Orpik with just seven seconds remaining. Game three of this series went to double over time and Kris Versteeg got his team the win with a goal at 3:15."
"That's true Bourquey; we'll see how this one ends up."
The first over time went scoreless and second over time started.
"Malone cross ice pass to Talbot, he shoots stopped, rebound and Jordan Staal scores to win it in double overtime. The Penguins are going to play a game seven against these Chicago Black Hawks in Pittsburgh on Thursday night," Miriya said and smiled.
The next day was spent on the bus until two o'clock when they got back to Pittsburgh. Everyone rested and prepared for game seven, a hockey players dream to complete for the Stanley Cup in a game seven of the finals.
"Chicago penalty to Jason Williams two minutes for interference at 3:47..." John Barbaroe said early in the first.
"Ten seconds left on the power play Malkin, he shoots and scored with just four seconds left on the power play."
"A Pittsburgh goal scored by number seventy-one Evgeni Malkin assisted by forty-four Brooks Orpik and number nineteen Ryan Whitney at 5:43, Malkin from Orpik and Whitney at 5:43 a power play goal."
The Guins took the 1-0 lead to the first intermission and came out with a smile to start the second. At 14:29 Jordan Staal scored to take a 2-0 lead with help from Ryan Malone and James McGuire. And four minutes later Sidney Crosby netted the Pens third goal of the night, Colby Armstrong and Kris Letang assisted at 18:52.
"A Chicago goal scored by Martin Havlat assisted by Tumo Ruutu and Jason Williams at 2:30, Havlat from Ruutu and Williams at 2:30," John said in the third.
"This is it Bourquey, there's just ten seconds left. Its game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals, the Chicago Black Hawks verse the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh. The Guins are up 3-1 and the face off is in the Hawks zone."
"You said it Staalsy, the Guins have the chance to bring Stanley Cup number three to the Burgh."
"The pucks dropped, Jordan Staal won it back to his defense, Ryan Whitney, he winds up, just five seconds, Bourquey, Whit shoots but is stopped, Staal tries for the rebound but the final buzzer goes off. The Pittsburgh Penguins have just won the Stanley Cup!"
"Congratulations on a great season Staalsy, it's been great calling games with you," Bourquey said during the commercial break.
"You too Bourquey," Miriya said taking her headset off then ran out of the commentators box and down to the ice surface.
Sid skated to the table at Center ice and picked up the cup. The smile on his face was unbelievable, like never before. Everyone was getting the cup and being interviewed. it came to Miriya who raised it above her head. Jordan skated over to her and got a picture with her and the cup > Army came over and took the cup from them.
"You did amazing boys, all your hard work finally paid off," Miriya said loud enough for the team to hear.
"You were right Staalsy this was our year," Bugsy said.
"Congrats baby," Miriya said. "The third cup has finally come."
"I don't think anything could make me happier," Jordan said with a smile.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that," Miriya paused. "Jordan, we're gona have a baby!"
"I love you," he said, picked her up and spun her around.
"I love you too," She said and he kissed her.
"When did you find out?"
"This morning, but I didn't want you to focus on anything but the game."
"We have to fix up a room and get clothes and think of a name."
"I know baby, but right now, tonight let's think about the win, let's think about the cup."

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