Sixteen months later in Montreal, Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov face off on the ice with their usual public hostility. Ilya trips Shane, Shane argues with the ref, and their bickering draws loud crowd reactions. Montreal teammate Hayden corners them during the stoppage, still unable to reconcile that the enemy Rozanov is Shane’s boyfriend, and threatens to punch Ilya if Ilya keeps provoking him.

Shane privately recalls how Hayden figured out the relationship after noticing Shane no longer met a “mystery man” in Boston but started driving to Ottawa frequently. Shane finally admitted the truth, expecting to lose Hayden’s friendship, but Hayden instead insisted on meeting Ilya properly. Their one real meeting went poorly, leaving Hayden and Ilya locked in mutual antagonism even as Hayden becomes part of Shane and Ilya’s small circle of trust.

The next day, Shane and Ilya prepare for a planned press conference announcing a joint charity. In a bathroom before the event, Shane panics about something going wrong, but Ilya steadies him and reminds him their plan has held: Ilya signed with Ottawa when his Boston contract ended, bought a private house, and Shane bought his own place for privacy. Hayden interrupts and warns them to keep things professional, prompting Shane to reflect that they are still not publicly out as a couple and prefer to control who knows.

At the press conference, Shane speaks in both English and French, framing their rivalry as mutual respect and confirming they are friends. He announces the Irina Foundation, funded by Shane selling the old hookup building and Ilya selling most of his car collection, dedicated to supporting people with depression and related mental illnesses that can lead to suicide. Ilya unexpectedly adds an emotional explanation that the foundation is named for his mother, Irina, and reveals she died when he was twelve after battling depression without help; Shane silently supports him by touching his arm.

After questions, Shane pulls Ilya back to the bathroom to celebrate and comfort him, telling Ilya he is proud to be with him even if they remain secret for now. They accept they must separate again immediately for travel, joking about Ilya wanting a pilot license, and Hayden offers an awkward apology and a grudging handshake before leaving. Alone afterward, Ilya reflects that he has shed some secrets, expects backlash from his brother Andrei but doesn’t care, and feels embraced by Shane’s family; he wants marriage and a future with children, while reminding himself to take “baby steps” toward being public. Ilya then texts Shane a surprise plan: a hotel room for a short private goodbye before he drives back to Ottawa.