When humanity is threatened only the super powered might of the Toronto Maple Leafs can be counted on to save the day. The Leafs have undergone a major overhaul this year. Of all the changes, none has been more impactful than the addition of a squadron based tactical deployment that head coach Mike Babcock and GM Kyle Dubas designed to keep the peace on the mean Toronto streets. Today everything is different. In California everything is different: Part 1: Los Angeles

Drew Doughty laughs as he smashes the frozen muck monster to pieces.

“That’s sixty!” He shouts to the heroes fighting beside him. Drew’s Los Angeles Kings are joined by Toronto Maple Leafs, who have come to California in the very nick of time. Fire spirits ravage the North and now muck monsters have started springing up without any warning. With their resources stretched thin, the Kings are happy for the help.

Toronto Maple Leafs John Tavares, Morgan Rielly, and Mitch Marner work beside Drew forcing the monsters toward the ocean. Three meters tall and dripping with stinky mud, the monsters seem to be controlled by a single intelligence. Their heads swivel in unison and when they flail their heavy limbs several of the things will merge arms to slap at a single target. But they are slow and the will that guides them has little understanding of tactics. This is their undoing.

Armed with a Toronto Maple Leaf ionic disruptor, Morgan keeps up a barrage of precise energy blasts that leave gaping holes in the mucky bodies. He stands behind fifteen Mitch Marners who form a shield wall on the left flank, pressing hard against the mucky mass. The Mitchs have  Toronto Maple Leaf tazer spears, the perfect blend of old and new technology which sends a stinging jolt through its razor tip.

Neither Mitch or Morgan are putting many muck monsters down. They aren’t trying to. Their job is to distract and funnel the muck monsters toward John and Drew who hold the right flank.  Hold might not be the correct word, they dominate, devastate and destroy the right flank. Since both heroes have powers that derive from their absolute chill they work amazingly well together.

Drew forms weapons of ice, throwing them or slamming them into monsters at a terrific rate. As each weapon slips into the muck it explodes both freezing and destroying the target. John emits a cold so deep as to freeze anything that gets close. At least that’s what he usually does. John has been training with Hayley Wickenheiser, learning different ways to use and control his powers. Today John is trying out a new trick where he focuses his cold on the iron tips of his quarterstaff. The result has been impressive. Each swing of the staff cleaves through two or three monsters at a time. The muck monsters have no defense against the cold death being thrown at them.  

“Sixty-five!” John answers. He isn’t really counting but every time Drew says a number John counters with a higher one.

Drew can’t help but feel frustrated, no matter how hard he tries he can’t seem to get ahead of Johns tally. He ducks under a clumsy attack and thrusts an ice sword into the muck monsters chest. The monster explodes but Drew has moved on. He forms an ice axe in his empty hand and slices off a muck monsters leg. In his other hand he wields an ice hammer which he smashes into the body of the falling monster. Before it explodes Drew slams both his weapons into the monster to its left. Drew forms an ice spear in each hand, planning to throw them at the closest muck monster. The closest monster is closer then Drew expects and he is caught in a two handed muck slap which knocks him off his feet. The heavy muck holds Drew down and begins to cover his face. Even as Drew freezes the first monster that caught him more and more begin to pile their muck upon him. As Drew begins to feel the first waves of panic the pressure is relieved. John spins his staff in a blur leaving a wreck of frozen muck behind him. The Leaf pushes further into the press of muck to buy Drew a chance to gather himself. A Mitch comes over to Drew and helps him to his feet. Drew watches as the fight moves on without him. The Leafs are demolishing the muck monsters, turning a disaster into a rout. The muck retreats and LA is safe, for now.

The Mitch beside him leans on his tazer spear and watches with Drew.

“They’re pretty awesome right?” Mitch asks.

“Awesome.” Drew agrees and somewhere deep inside a little part of him wonders what it would be like if he were the one in blue and white.