Staal [A Jordan Stal Story] Thirty-Five

Later that day Miriya woke up earlier than Jordan from the pre-game nap & decided to make a nice game night dinner.
"Mmm something smells good," Jordan said while yawning & walking into the kitchen.
"Pasta," Miriya said & went to the dinner room to set the two plates down.
By the time they were eating it was about four-thirty & they both went to get ready for the game. Once they got to the arena the entire team looked really nervous.
"Ok boys it`s not game six in the Eastern Conference semi-finals. You don`t have to worry about winning, it`s not game seven it`s game six & you`re leading the series three game to two. You could lose this one & come back & take it in game seven, but that`s not what I want & I`m sure that`s not what you want. But for now just calm down, good luck, & just go out there & have fun."
The guys started suiting up & Miriya went up to hers spot in the booth after one last kiss. Seven-thirty finally came & it was game time.
"Hello everyone & welcome to game six between your Pittsburgh Penguins & the Boston Bruins. The Guins are leading the series three games to two & could move on to the Eastern Conference Finals with a win tonight. Knock on wood," She said just before she knocked on a little block of wood she had with her.
"Ladies & gentlemen Elvis has just left the building, Jordan Staal & Evgeni Malkin both have hat tricks tonight, the Guins lead the B`s six to two, & there`s just over two minutes left in this game six. The B`s could come back but with the way Fleury`s playing tonight it`s highly improbable," again she knocked on wood.
"We`re going to the Conference Final baby," Jordan said when Miriya walked into the locker room.
"I know baby, congrats on your hat trick," she said & kissed his cheek.
Jordan went to shower & Miriya went over to Geno. "Geno congrats on the hat trick, you boys really deserved the win."
"Thanks Mir."
"Hey Staalsy."
"Yea Army what`s up?"
"What got into your boy today?"
"Oh nothing," she said trying to look innocent.
"Right, well keep it up," he said with a laugh, gave her a hug, & walked away.
Back at the house that night Miriya went to take a shower, she turned the water on to just the right temperature; since she had music on her didn`t hear the door click closed. The next thing she new there was a set of strong, gentle arms around her stomach.
"You my big bad hockey player are amazing," he said as he spun her around.
He pushed her against the wall & she put her arms around his neck, "I love you."
"I love you too Jordan."
The next morning Miriya woke up & went to the living room to watch TV so that she didn`t wake Jordan up. She turned on ESPN & the standings for the semi-finals came up. Pittsburgh had beaten Boston four games to two, Carolina beat Washington four games to three, Chicago had beaten Vancouver four games to three, & Los Angeles beat Anaheim four games to one.
Jordan woke up, heard the TV & knew where Miriya was. "Morning baby," he said with a raspy voice & coughed.
"Baby you were fine last night, what happened?"
"I don`t know, but my throat hurts."
"You stay in bed & I`ll take care of you today."
"But I was planning on going down to the arena to skate," he tired getting out of bed.
"No skating for you, get back into bed & I`ll go make you toast & tea."
Jordan got back into bed & pulled the covers back up. Miriya kissed his forehead & went to the kitchen. She came back with tea with honey & lemon, some toast with butter & grape jelly, & some fruit.
"Here ya go, eat up."
"Can I watch a movie?"
"Yes Jordan you can watch a movie, what would you like to watch?"
"Potc 3."
Miriya put the movie in & sat down next to Jordan on the bed.
"Mommy will I be able to play when the next series starts?" he asked in a little kid voice.
"If you stay in bed, sleep, & do what tell you to do today you`ll be better by tomorrow & I`ll let you go skate."
"Ok, come here my big bad hockey announcer."
Miriya moved over next to him, put her head on his shoulder, & he put his arm around her. For awhile they were both saying lines from the movie, but then they both fell asleep. Just as Will was coming back to see Elizabeth & his son Miriya woke up. It was about eleven forty-five so she went to the kitchen to make lunch.
Jordan yawned, "Do I smell tomato soup?"
"Yes you do," Miriya walked into the bedroom with two bowls of soup, saltine crackers, & ginger ale.
"I know you were watching ESPN this morning, did you happen to see who we`re playing in the conference final?"
"I did, we`ll be seeing a lot of Eric," she said with a smile.
"Oh boy, it`ll be like that year when the Ducks played the Devils & the Niedermayer brothers were playing each other."
"Yea but that was more intense, that was for the Cup this is just the conference finals."
"True, who`s playing for the West?"
"The Hawks are playing the Kings.
Two days later Jordan`s cough was gone, & not much later it was time to start the conference finals. Game one, two, & five were in Pittsburgh, three & four were in Carolina. The Guins started off the series well & won game one three to one, but the Canes came back & took game two with a three two overtime win. The Penguins took the lead again winning game three five to four, but game four left the series tied at two when the Canes mustarded up a three two win. Five was taken by the Pens four two, but again the Canes came back in game six with a three one win.
"Alright boys, don`t be nervous. Yes it`s game seven in the Conference Finals, but you`ve played hard all year & have made me proud to be your announcer. I want you to go there & have fun, don`t concentrate on winning, concentrate on being the best that you can be. I love you boys & good luck," Miriya said before leaving the visitor's locker room & going up to the press box.
"I have a feeling this is going to be an interesting game," a smile came to Bourquey's face.
"Me too."
"Good evening everyone & welcome to game seven of the Eastern Conference Finals, where tonight the Carolina Hurricanes take on your Pittsburgh Penguins. The series is tied at three & both teams have an equal chance of moving on to the Stanley Cup Finals."
"That`s exactly right Staalsy & I have a feeling that we have an interesting game ahead of us tonight."
"At the end of one it`s Carolina with a goal from my brother-in-law Eric Staal & Pittsburgh nothing," Miriya said at the end of the first period stating up at the score board.
In the second the Guins got their first goal of the game at 3:02, Jordan pushed the puck behind Ward with some help from Ryan Malone & Ryan Whitney. Twelve minutes later Malkin netted a goal to give the Guins a two one lead, it came at 15:06 & the helpers went to Sidney Crosby & Colby Armstrong.
The clock was winding down, two minutes left Cole got a pass in the slot & one timed it to tie the game at two. It was scored at 18:27 & Ladd & Gleason received the assists.
"Bourquey called it at the start & it has turned out to be an interesting game. At the end of forty minutes the Canes & the Guins are tied at two. Both Staal brothers scored the first goals for their respective teams, Evgeni Malkin scored to give the Guins the lead but Eric Cole tied it up late in the period."
"We have twenty minutes left to play & I`m excited to see who comes out with the win."
"We`ve got a lot of talent & they`ve put on a great show so far, we`ll see which group of super stars can pull it off."
Both teams skated back out & five minutes in the Canes took the lead again. Mike Commodore had gotten a lead pass in the defensive zone from his goalie Cam Ward & was off on a breakaway. But exactly one minute later at 6:15 Crosby netted the Guins third goal to tie the game. Malkin got his second point of the night & Mark Eaton also helped out.
"Staalsy at the end of sixty minutes of play we`re tied at three, from here we go to a twenty minute sudden death overtime period."
"For those fans who don`t know, if the two teams are still tied at the end of the first overtime it will not got to a shootout like in the regular season. The playoffs are the only time that teams can go to more than one overtime period."
"Thanks Staalsy, well here's the opening face-off."
No one scored in the first twenty minutes & it was the first time that Miriya was going to announce a game that went to more than one overtime period. The second overtime ended in the same way as the first, with the Guins & the Canes tied at three. The third overtime was about to start & everyone on the bench looked tired, but the fans in the stands were cheering for the home team & waiting for a winner.
The opening face-off was dropped to start the third overtime & the seconds slowly ticked off the clock high above the ice. Both team were making crisp tape to tape passes & had great rushes just as they had throughout the rest of the game.
"Fleury makes a beauty of a pass out to Penguins' defenseman Kris Letang. Letang takes it up to just outside the hash. If the Guins want to end this they have to do it quickly they have just over ten seconds left. Letang passes to his defense partner Brooks Orpik, there`s no one on him."
"No one knew he made the pass Staalsy."
"Orpik he shoots, did it go in? It did Brooks Orpik shoots & scores. An unlikely goal scorer in the Penguins' number forty-four, but he wins the game in triple overtime against the Carolina Hurricanes to take the Guins to the Stanley Cup Finals."
Miriya did the closing segment then headed down to the locker room. Everyone was gathered around Brooksy & cheering knowing that they had finally made it. After eight years of hard work they were finally going to the Stanley Cup Finals. Miriya looked at her cell phone & saw that it was almost one o'clock but didn`t care.
"Brooksy I never would have expected you to score the game winner. Not that I doubted you or anything, 'cause I don`t doubt any of my boys. What I`m trying to say is good job, it was a great goal."
"Thanks Staalsy," he said giving her a hug.
Jordan walked over & tapped her on the shoulder. "Did you see Eric`s face when we won it?"
"I did baby, not as well as you, but I could see it."
"Priceless, were going to the finals & I`m going to take a shower."
"Ok baby," she said & gave him a kiss on the cheek.
He went to the showers & Miriya went to Jamesy's stall.
"What`s up Staalsy?"
"Just wanted to say that I`m sorry for giving you such a hard time at the beginning of the year. You`ve worked really hard & deserve to be on this team."
"Hey no hard feelings & thanks. I`m sorry for hittin' on you in training camp, you & Gronk are perfect for each other."
"Thanks, are you gonna be at Geno & Cassie`s wedding?"
"Yep, wouldn`t miss it. I love spending time with the team."
"Jamesy"
"Gronk, how are ya?"
"Pretty good, baby you know who won for the West?"
"Yea for once their game ended before ours, you`re gonna be playing the Hawks."
"Sweet," James said. "Well I`m gonna get outta here, see ya soon."
"Hopefully not too soon," Jordan said as James started to leave. "Alright baby let`s get outta here."