From our seats in 409, my seatmate Bob and I had a near perfect view of the whole play. A few minutes after it was scored, Bob turned to me and we both agreed that we felt as though we had watched this goal being scored live in slow motion. It was one of those rare times while watching hockey live that you get chills up and down your spine at the thrill of seeing a goal scored so skillfully.

The fact that it was scored by my all time favorite player, Brendan Shanahan, was the icing on the cake for this game winner. Brendan is renowned for his quick release. It doesn’t get much quicker than this. Brendan held the puck long enough to get a great goaltender like Ryan Miller to look like a deer caught in the headlights. Miller flinched first and Bam! Shanny fired just high enough to beat Miller glove side. I’ll bet young Miller will have bad dreams about this one for a long time.

What Brendan Shanahan brings to the table is the experience of a man who has won three Stanley Cups. He had the game winning goal in 2002 against Carolina. He had the game winning goal last night. Since learning that Glen Sather signed Shanahan last July, the smile hasn’t left my face. I was so glad I was not in the building to see Shanny’s crash with Knuble. I don’t think I could have borne it. I am grateful that Shanny seems 100% recovered. He may be 38 years old but I hope he agrees to come back and play for us next year.

Together with the rejuvenated and spirited play of Jaromir Jagr, who knows how deep the Rangers can go in the playoffs being lead by two of the NHL’s greatest goal scorers.

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