Page 12 of Offside Angle

Lena’s glare could probably melt steel.

I press my forehead to the floor for a second and laugh quietly into the mat.

It’s the day before playoffs start, and Damian has decided to give us a break.

Sort of.

Instead of running us into the ground on the ice, we’re all piled into the film room. Lights dimmed, projector on, the entire team crammed into seats with notebooks, tablets, and half-empty coffee cups scattered around. The air is thick with focus and the low hum of the AC.

On the big screen, Halifax Icehawks tape is playing on a loop.

We’ve already watched two of our own games against them from last season and one from earlier this year. Now we’re deep into studying how they play against other teams — their defensive structure, transition game, how they exploit weak side gaps, and the way their goalie handles high-danger chances.

Damian stands near the front with his arms crossed, occasionally pausing the footage. Elias is right beside him, leaning forward with that intense, feral focus he gets when he’s locked in.

“Watch this,” Damian says, rewinding a clip. “Number 19 on Halifax — Vale. He cheats hard on the strong side. If we can pull him out of position with a quick puck movement here…” He points at the screen. “We create a lane.”

Elias nods, tapping the tablet in his hand. “We’ve been working on that exact entry in practice. If Cole and I can get the puck to the middle quickly, we can force their D to overcommit.”

From the middle of the room, Cole speaks up without looking away from the screen.

“They’re really disciplined on the backcheck,” he says. “But they get lazy in the neutral zone when they think they’ve got control. If we can hit them with speed right after they dump it in, we can flip the ice on them.”

Tyler leans forward, pointing at another clip. “Their transition is dangerous, but they hate when you pressure the puck carrier immediately after the dump. If we can make them make that first pass under pressure, they turn it over more than they should.”

I watch for a while, taking mental notes. Halifax is cold, precise, and annoying as hell to play against. They don’t make many flashy mistakes, but they punish you the moment you get sloppy.

Viktor speaks up from beside me. “They like to trap on the weak side. If we can stretch them horizontally first, then hit the middle, we can break their structure.”

The tape pauses again and Elias turns to look at us. “Anything else?” he asks. “Speak up now. We need every detail.”

Everyone studies the screen, then the talking starts again — overlapping observations, small arguments about matchups, ideas about how to counter their habits. It’s not loud or chaotic like usual. It’s focused. Sharp. The kind of energy that only comes right before playoffs.

Elias steps forward and crosses his arms, looking around the room. “Alright,” he says. “Let’s lock some things in for Game 1.”

Damian stays beside him, stepping in when he has something to add. “Cole, when their top line is out, stay hard on their left side. Don't give them an easy wall exit. Viktor, their center lives around the crease. Box him out and don't give him inside position.”

Viktor just nods once, calm as ever.

“Tyler, you’re with me on the second line,” Elias continues. “We’re going to be the speed line. I want us pressuring their D the second they touch the puck.”

Tyler grins, already looking way too excited. “I can do that.”

Elias points at me next.

“Mats, you’re on the first pairing with Viktor. I need you reading their transition and jumping on loose pucks. Don’t be afraid to pinch if the opportunity is there — we’ll have the back end covered.”

I nod, already running through the matchups in my head.

Then Elias turns to the rookies.

“Jace, you’re rotating in on the third pairing. Nico, you’re on the fourth line, but I want you ready to jump up if someone’s struggling. Bellamy, keep it simple and physical.”

Nico is trying very hard to hide his nerves and failing badly. Jace just nods, eyes wide but focused.

Cole suddenly raises his hand like he’s in school.

“Question,” he says. “Can I still chirp their goalie or is that against the new ‘mature playoff Mats’ rules?”