A/N: I honestly should've just named this chapter "Chirp Chirp Chirp, Flirt Flirt Flirt" (or as a very tired bahoreal/tumblr/com suggested, "Twitter was made for chirping") lmao! Hope y'all enjoy it *heart*
Having the whole offseason to stew about how their season ended is hard for Kent. They were almost good enough to get there—they only had to win six games. But they only mustered half that, and Kent can't help like feeling he could've done more. A few more goals or assists here or there, at any point in the season could've contributed to more wins and decreased the importance of those last fifteen games.
The team votes him captain for the next season, before every one parts ways for the summer. Their last captain retired, and Felix made it clear he didn't want to be more than an alternate. Kent doesn't campaign, doesn't even dream that he's in the running. It's only his third season, and he's not the most outgoing person. But 80% of Kent's teammates vote for him; the other 20% voted for Felix because either they love him that much, or they hate Kent just as much.
So Kent throws himself into his offseason workouts, going harder than he ever has at any point in his career. He stays in Vegas, working with the coaching staff that lives there, meeting with the team's trainer five days a week—he has to be at his absolute peak when the season starts. The guys deserve that (and if all that work keeps him too busy to think about how lonely he is, all the better).
As hard as Kent works, so does the Aces upper management. The Aces have a lot of cap room, with a roster built largely of young guys not too many years removed from the draft (including Kent himself). They use that money to court several top free-agents, pitching to them that they're the "last piece of the puzzle", that the Aces will win big if they sign.
The pitch works, and going into the regular season, the Aces have (and not even subjectively) the best roster in franchise history—and even one of the best rosters in the NHL (something that's little more subjective).
The Falconers take a different approach, putting most of their eggs into the draft basket. They seem to be counting on developing players already on the roster and a number of minor leaguers that experts say are certain to make the roster out of camp.
Two different strategies, and Kent finds himself hoping that both work out (and that has nothing to do with Tater, shut up, he just wants to see the other expansion teams do well).
The Aces' strategy plays out brilliantly. With all the added talent and a lot of hard work from everyone, the Aces not only play well enough to make the playoffs, they played the season out to a 52-20-10 record, the best record in the NHL which won them the Presidents' Trophy. Kent couldn't be more proud of his team.
The Falconers, on the other hand, struggled mightily, only managing a 34-36-12 record. None of the talented players they were counting on lived up to expectations. Tater played as well as he could for someone surrounded by developing players. But Kent suspects this season could pay off in a few years; there's no substitute for experience, and the young guys got plenty of that.
On the last day of the season, when Kent makes it back to his apartment after the game, he collapses on his couch, flipping on ESPN to see the final results—who's in, who's out.
Kent's barely sat down when his phone buzzes. It's a tweet alert from Tater (he has all his—well, all the people that he knows on notifications; he can hardly call any of them friends).
tater_mashkov_falcs: congrats to kvparson87 and Aces for being in playoffs! is great day! expansion team finally makes playoffs! wooo! )))))
Kent smiles; leave it to Tater to celebrate a rival team making the playoffs (though Kent probably would've done the same if the Falconers had made it).
But even though they've made it (with the NHL's best record no less), Kent isn't holding his breath for the Aces to make it very far. Normally he'd say they'd make it past the first round, but ESPN just announced that the Aces are playing the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round. Though the Blackhawks disappointed a lot of fans by only squeaking in as the 8th seed, there's no denying that they're going to be a dangerous team. They had won the Stanley Cup only two seasons ago, and a lot of talent from that team is still on the roster. It's conceivable that the Aces might not win one game.
Kent decides to include this in his tweet reply.
kvparson87: tater_mashkov_falcs thanks man! I'm so proud of our guys! It's great to finally make it to the #StanleyCupPlayoffs but we've got a tough road ahead! #LVvsCHI #NeverLetUp
tater_mashkov_falcs: kvparson87 i am sure it will not be problem! you play great and win! that way we can say we beat stanley cup champions twice! )))))
Kent rolls his eyes and shakes his head. Of course he would bring that up. Somehow, the Falconers swept the season series against the Aces, something Kent still hasn't managed to find an answer as to how.
kvparson87: tater_mashkov_falcs let's not jump the gun…we haven't won the cup yet. Besides, we were the better team, you guys just got lucky :)
tater_mashkov_falcs: kvparson87 i not call 4-1 win luck but okay ))
kvparson87: tater_mashkov_falcs details…but mark my words, it won't happen again next year
tater_mashkov_falcs: kvparson87 ooh, you give challenge! worry not, we be ready! but good luck for now! ))))
kvparson87: tater_mashkov_falcs thanks :))))
Kent locks his phone and picks up the remote, turning the TV off. It's late and preparation for the Blackhawks starts tomorrow morning. He'd love to tweet at Tater more, but he needs to get some rest (but if the last thing he thinks about when he falls asleep are rusty brown eyes, well, that's simply a coincidence).
When Kent wakes up from his pre-game nap the day of their first game against the Blackhawks, he notices another tweet notification from Tater.
tater_mashkov_falcs: skate fast kvparson87! NHLBlackhawks don't stand chance against LVAces!
Kent chuckles at Tater's confidence, and wishes he could share it. He's watched a lot of tape and the Blackhawks match up well against them. Their strengths are the Aces weaknesses, and Kent thinks that if they manage to hang close, it might just be a minor miracle.
As he's thinking about how to reply, the Blackhawks twitter vehemently protests to Tater's assertion that they don't stand a chance.
NHLBlackhawks: tater_mashkov_falcs kvparson87 LVAces strong words from a guy whose team didn't make the playoffs #StayInYourLane
Kent nearly falls off the bed laughing. He can't believe that they just called Tater out like that—though to be fair, players are usually smart enough not to tag the team Twitter in a tweet like that. He can't restrain himself from replying:
kvparson87: NHLBlackhawks tater_mashkov_falcs LVAces HOLY SHIT THEY JUST DID THAT! YAAAASSSSS! DRAG HIS ASS!
tater_mashkov_falcs: kvparson87 NHLBlackhawks LVAces (((((((
LVAces: NHLBlackhawks LVAces kvparson87 don't be sad, you're definitely right! We did win the #PresidentsTrophy! :)
Seeing Tater's sad faces makes Kent a little guilty; he wasn't trying to be mean, he just thought it was really amusing. So he responds with some encouragement.
kvparson87: LVAces NHLBlackhawks don't worry Tater, the LVAces and I def appreciate you supporting us tonight :D
tater_mashkov_falcs: kvparson87 LVAces you be able to hear me cheer from providence!
kvparson87: tater_mashkov_falcs LVAces I'll be listening for it! :)
LVAces: kvparson87 tater_mashkov_falcs we'll be listening too! We're always happy to have another fan cheering for us!
kvparson87: tater_mashkov_falcs also a word of advice, maybe next time, don't the other team lmao
As Kent takes off for the Aces arena, he feels relaxed, the edge having been taken off his nerves by Tater's minor twitter debacle.
The Aces play fast, loose, and confident, like they're the playoff veterans instead of the Blackhawks. They win 3-2, with Kent being responsible for three points (two goals and an assist), and Kent is more than ecstatic that the Aces have won their first playoff game.
In fact, when Kent gets home, he tweets this out first thing before he even takes his shoes off.
kvparson87: LVAces won their first playoff game EVER tonight and I'm so happy! Proud as hell of all my teammates! :)
tater_mashkov_falcs: kvparson87 tater is proud of you and LVAces too! is another big day for expansion teams! #finally
kvparson87: tater_mashkov_falcs LVAces thanks Tater 3. Your cheering was vital to our win tonight #YesIDidActuallyHearYou
LVAces: kvparson87 tater_mashkov_falcs we did too! #TheBestFan
tater_mashkov_falcs: LVAces kvparson87 I am glad! I will do same for next game!
kvparson87: tater_mashkov_falcs LVAces I look forward to it :)
- Retweeted by LVAces
The Aces go onto sweep the Blackhawks, and with every game, every shift, Kent feels the young and playoff-inexperienced players gain confidence, and it's on display in the final game of round, when the Aces rout the Blackhawks 5-0.
The Aces 2nd round opponent are the Detroit Red Wings, a team that, like the Blackhawks, have had a lot of recent playoff experience (having made the Stanley Cup Finals in 2009) and finished with a disappointing record. But unlike the Blackhawks, the Red Wings roster is aging. The experience and savvy is still there, but a lot of guys have lost a step.
Not that you could tell in the first round. They won 4 games to 1, only making a misstep in game 3, the first game away from Joe Louis Arena. They looked much like the team that made the Finals in 2009, and Kent would be lying if he said he was confident they could win. But then again, he said that prior to the 1st round, so he could be wrong.
Again, when he wakes up from his pre-game nap prior to game 1, he's mentioned in a tweet by Tater. It's in response to a tweet by the Aces' team Twitter.
LVAces: The Aces return to the ice tonight against the DetroitRedWings! Who do you think is going to be game 1 #MVP? #LVvsDET
tater_mashkov_falcs: LVAces DetroitRedWings will be no contest! kvparson87 is best player on ice and he will prove! ))))
DetroitRedWings: tater_mashkov_falcs LVAces kvparson87 uh oh, looks like someone didn't learn their lesson the first time…do we need to remind you again? #StayInYourLane #Again
Kent grins and exhales. Of course Tater would forget. But rather than laugh at him like he did last time, Kent decides to come to his defense.
kvparson87: DetroitRedWings tater_mashkov_falcs LVAces well I'm sure you know that I *am* the leading #MVPCandidate…and there's nothing wrong with stating the facts :)
- Retweeted by LVAces
tater_mashkov_falcs: kvparson87 DetroitRedWings LVAces yes I just say facts! is nothing wrong with that
kvparson87: tater_mashkov_falcs LVAces maybe the DetroitRedWings should consider #StayingInTheirLane too :)
DetroitRedWings: kvparson87 tater_mashkov_falcs LVAces we'll just have to wait and see how the game goes… #LVvsDET
After seeing all these tweets from Tater, Kent decides to check out his twitter. There's no way he can only be tweeting him. With as friendly as Tater is, he must have tons of friends scattered across the league that he would want to encourage too.
Prior to the first round, Tater had tweeted Geno and the Penguins:
tater_mashkov_falcs: penguins malkin71_ good luck in playoffs!
And there are a few other tweets here and there but none are quite as emphatic as the tweets at Kent and the Aces, and the vast majority are directed at them too which is—curious, but Kent needs to get going on his pregame routine so he can't really spend much time pondering over it.
The Red Wings don't play like a #7 seed, and they certainly don't play like they've lost a step. They throw everything they have at the Aces, dragging the series out to all seven games, including three games that required overtime. But they survive and move onto the Conference Finals to play the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks only needed five games to dispatch their 2nd round opponent, so going into this series, they are certainly fresher than the Aces are. Kent isn't sure they're going to be able to match their energy.
Kent is hardly surprised when Tater tweets him before the game. In fact, he was going to be a little worried if he didn't (he's a hockey player, he has his superstitions, okay). But he's right on time, tweeting right about when Kent gets up from his nap.
tater_mashkov_falcs: kvparson87 LVAces not many games left until cup final! i'm confident that you win and advance! ))))
And the reply from the Sharks is already in, and Kent rolls his eyes. He didn't even tag the Sharks; now they're just doing this on purpose.
SanJoseSharks: kvparson87 LVAces ahem tater_mashkov_falcs you're one to talk about that…how many times did the NHLFalconers beat us this year? #AFairQuestion
kvparson87: SanJoseSharks tater_mashkov_falcs LVAces okay now you're just fucking with him for retweets #NotCool
kvparson87: SanJoseSharks tater_mashkov_falcs LVAces besides if we're going to play that game, how many times did *you* beat us? #AnotherFairQuestion #4and0
LVAces: kvparson87 SanJoseSharks tater_mashkov_falcs and none of those games were close. 3-0, 3-1, 4-2, 5-1…
SanJoseSharks: kvparson87 tater_mashkov_falcs LVAces…gtg…
kvparson87: SanJoseSharks tater_mashkov_falcs LVAces yeah, that's right :)
LVAces: kvparson87 SanJoseSharks tater_mashkov_falcs don't tweet at us unless you're ready to be smacked down :)
After Kent is done dragging the Sharks twitter to hell and back, he sees another tweet from Tater, and when he reads it, he smiles, his chest feeling warm.
tater_mashkov_falcs: kvparson87 is best *heart* ))))))))
- Retweeted by kvparson87
Banged up, bruised, and exhausted, the Aces still manage to cruise to a 4-1 series win and reach the Stanley Cup Finals. The list of team accomplishments are piling up: the franchise's first playoff berth, the Presidents' Trophy, first playoff win, first playoff series win, first Stanley Cup final appearance. This, all in one season. But Kent's not satisfied with just that. He wants to lift the Cup, to be champion, and he knows that everyone else on his team wants that too.
Their Finals matchup is with the New Jersey Devils, a team that by most accounts isn't nearly as talented as the Aces, but despite that, the Devils beat them in their two regular season meetings, but according to Tater, that doesn't matter (and of course, Kent agrees).
tater_mashkov_falcs: LVAces may have lost games against devils in regular season but regular season do not matter here
tater_mashkov_falcs: LVAces will win finals because they are best team with best player kvparson87 ))))
NJDevils: tater_mashkov_falcs LVAces kvparson87 one good player does not a #StanleyCupChampion team make…
kvparson87: NJDevils tater_mashkov_falcs LVAces good thing that we have 19 other great players then :)
LVAces: kvparson87 NJDevils tater_mashkov_falcs yep! You don't win 52 games without a quality roster top to bottom #BestTeamInTheLeague
NJDevils: kvparson87 tater_mashkov_falcs LVAces guess we'll all find out…see you on the ice May 20th
kvparson87: NJDevils tater_mashkov_falcs LVAces I look forward to seeing you out there #BeReady #BringYourAGame #StanleyCupFinals
It's a long, grueling Finals, but at the end, Kent stands on the ice and lifts the Cup. It's the culmination of everything he's worked for since he was a kid. He's so happy that he doesn't even stop to think about Jack or wish that he was there with him. This is his moment, his team's moment. Maybe later he'll think about him, but not now.
The first thing Kent does when the celebration dies down is to check his twitter for a tweet from Tater, and he's not disappointed.
tater_mashkov_falcs: woo! LVAces win stanley cup! kvparson87I say from beginning you could do it! ))))))
kvparson87: tater_mashkov_falcs Thanks! I'm so proud of all my LVAces teammates! This wouldn't have been possible without them :)
tater_mashkov_falcs: kvparson87 LVAces you do much work yourself too! you win conn smythe trophy!
kvparson87: tater_mashkov_falcs LVAces they still did most of the work. It takes a team to win a championship #BestTeammatesEver
tater_mashkov_falcs: kvparson87 LVAces are good team. NHLFalconers will be good team soon. we win championship soon too!
kvparson87: tater_mashkov_falcs LVAces NHLFalconers not without a fight you won't! #DefendingChamps #BringIt
tater_mashkov_falcs: kvparson87 LVAces NHLFalconers like I already say: we be ready for challenge #bringitalso
LVAces: tater_mashkov_falcs kvparson87 NHLFalconers omg our necks are hurting a little from that whiplash #FanToEnemy just like that
kvparson87: LVAces tater_mashkov_falcs NHLFalconers that's how this league works lol!
kvparson87: tater_mashkov_falcs but anyway I hope we see you next May. In the meantime, thanks for all your support over the playoffs #BestTwitterCheeringSection
tater_mashkov_falcs: kvparson87 you are welcome! ))))))) #anytime
A/N: Yes, I understand that Kent's tweeting language is more like it's 2016 rather than 2012, but I don't even remember what the internet was like in 2012, so this will have to do lol...also, I didn't check the character count of any of the tweets, so I might have gone over on a few...oh well lmao