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 we follow Ether squad: the goalies.

A cold winds rip through the streets of St. Paul, Minnesota keeping the cities populace indoors. This saves the heroes of the Minnesota Wild from having to herd a reluctant crowd of people away from the amazing and deadly event unfolding on Raspberry Island. A Hell gate has opened right under the bandshell. Chief wizard for the Wild, Devan Dubnyk does his best to keep the gate from expanding while his teammates Matt Dumba and Jason Zucker hold back the denizens of the underworld.

The horde is as endless as it is mindless which makes the task of holding them back more like a chore than a battle. Matt uses his sonic scream sparingly, mostly fighting with a mace and a shield. Jason uses his boundless energy to hack away at his foes with a comically over sized longsword. Devan is completely protected in his position behind the two Wild, which is good because it takes all his concentration to maintain a grip on his dwindling sanity. The gate has a will of its own which is desperate to manifest itself permanently on the Earth. As Devan feels his mind start to crack under the demonic barrage a hand lands on his shoulder and a new strength flows into him.

“We just need to keep it open a little while longer.” Says Frederik Andersen, chief wizard of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leaf is not alone, his backup wizard Garret Sparks strides with purpose towards the gate. Magic ripples around Garret and trickles into Hell through the gate.

“I can feel him!” Garret shouts back to Freddy. “He’s not alone!”

“Pull him out!” Freddy yells, and braces himself for the consequences.

The magic swirling around Garret pulses and changes from a shimmer to a flood. The gate senses the power and seeks to draw it in, this would devour Garret if Freddy let it. The Leaf wizard works through Devan to manipulate and redirect the gates malicious and hungry focus. Devan is left to observe the action, swept aside by powers beyond his reckoning. A noise begins to build from within the gate. A crooning shriek that soon grows to a gale of noise. The hell folk assaulting the gate are staggered giving Matt and Jason a chance to regroup.

“Stay back!” Freddy yells at the Wild.

“Here they come!” Garret shouts.

The sound gets louder and louder and soon Devan can tell that it is actually the ceaseless roaring of some great beast. Through the gate he sees Garret’s magic glowing brightly as it comes racing back. A massive shadow looms behind, blotting out the burning Hell scape with its unfathomable bulk.

A man shape figure flies out of the gate and slams into Garret, knocking the wizard off his feet. A terrible snout forces through the Hell gate, straining against the confines of the gate, furiously snapping at the new arrival. Devan is frozen in horror unable even to scream in his fear. The Leaf beside him doesn’t hesitate. With a wave of his hand Freddy forces he Hell gate shut. Devan is humbled by the power and finality with which Freddy closes the gate. The horrible snout is severed and the quivering lumps of Hell flesh left Earthside hiss and smolder in the echoing silence.

The first to stand is the man who was pulled out of Hell. William Nylander looks around wild eyed. It only takes a moment for the wayward Leaf to realize what has happened. He starts to laugh.

“I’m home.” Wily says. “I’m finally home.”