AUTHOR'S POV
The arena was louder than it had ever been in the history of the franchise.
The massive steel structure seemed to vibrate under the sheer weight of the noise. Thousands of die-hard fans filled every single available seat, a swirling ocean of the team's colors stretching all the way to the nosebleed section.
Giant flags waved rhythmically across the crowded stands, and the continuous roar of air horns filled the air.
Up on the giant jumbotron, the glowing red numbers of the scoreboard told a brutal story.
3 – 3
The final whistle was only a few agonizing minutes away. The ice was slashed, covered in deep skate grooves, and the exhaustion of both teams was visible in the heavy rise and fall of their shoulders.
One final play.
One final chance to avoid a grueling overtime.
