Brendan Shanahan admitted he noticed he played his first game for the Devils just in time to help them pass the Rangers and take over first place in the Atlantic Division.
"It's kind of weird how the timing of all that worked out," he said after scoring a goal in the Devils' 3-1 win over the Nashville Predators tonight at Sommet Center.
Shanahan played the last two season for the Rangers and wanted to re-sign with them for this season, but they didn't have the cap room and never made him a contract offer. So, after waiting for three and a half months, he signed with the Devils last Wednesday and made his season debut Monday night.
He scored a 5-on-3 goal in the second period, but also had a key shift in the final two minutes of the third when he held the puck in the right corner of the Nashville zone for about 30 seconds with the Devils clinging to a 2-1 lead.
“That last shift meant more to me, just conditioning-wise at the end of the game,” said Shanahan, who ranks 11th all-time and leads all active players with 651 career goals. “You always want to be in the situation where you can make a good play for your teammates when the game is on the line.”
Shanahan played 18 shifts for 13:59 in ice time and fired a team-high six shots on goal. He made it clear that he's out to prove those who said he was finished wrong and did so for at least one night.
"I think from what I've read and what I've hard, I genuinely believed I'm better than other people did," he said, laughing. "It's just a funny way of saying that in spite of some things I've heard, I believe I can still play. But sometimes if you're not seen for a while, you're sort of forgotten about. I don't think you would do what I did - not as far as the signing or tonight or the past week -- I don't think you could do what I did since July until the day Lou (Lamoriello) signed me if you didn't believe you could contribute because it really (stunk) in a lot of ways. Driving to the rink every night and getting offered jobs in other areas of life and telling people through surprised looks that you're actually still intending on playing, So, it might be false confidence, but it's useful."
Even Shanahan admitted he didn't know he would have such an immediate impact.
"I wasn't sure," he said. "I wasn't sure how much I was going to get used. I didn't know if it would come right away. I still think I've got some work to do. It was the first game and there was a lot of adrenaline and I think that it's just one game and there's a long ways for me to go and a lot of building for me yet.
Devils coach Brent Sutter credited Shanahan for all the work he did on his own while waiting for a team to sign him.
"He's been ready conditioning-wise and stuff like that since August," Sutter said. "He wasn't a player that ever wanted to retire or a player that was trying to decide whether to retire. He was a player that wanted to play somewhere and thought certain things would have worked out with the team he was playing for and they didn't. But he still stayed on the course and eventually it worked out for him and I'm glad it's worked out for us."
Sutter then took a playful little shot at Mats Sundin.
"He wasn't traveling in North America, playing poker in those celebrity poker events and stuff and I'm saying that in a humerous way," Sutter said of Shanahan. "He's a well-conditioned hockey player and he trained that way."
***
It's taken the Devils 46 games, but, after tonight's win, they're in first place in the Atlantic Division for the first time this season. They want to stay there at least for the all-star break and can do that by defeating Montreal in their final game before the break on Wednesday night at Prudential Center.
"It's what we've been shooting for so it's nice get there," said Zach Parise, who scored his 27th goal of the season into an empty net with 13.7 seconds left to clinch tonight's win. "We have one more game going into the break and it would be nice to remain there."
Sutter said taking over first place wasn't discussed by the team. He said the main focus was getting back on track on this six-game road trip after playing poorly in back-to-back losses to Carolina (3-2) and Atlanta (4-0) before it began.
It seems they have accomplished that by going 5-1 in the six games.
"After the way we finished before we went on the road, it was important for us to get out here and get our game back," Sutter said.
Great game for Shanny tonight.
Posted by: jdr30 | January 20, 2009 at 12:24 AM
It's still a little weird seeing Shanny in a Devs jersey after he played for the Rangers last year, but It'll grow on me. Solid game Shanny..
Posted by: Brodeur30 | January 20, 2009 at 12:30 AM
Man those were the memories, they brought back some highlights from when Shanahan was a rookie. I remember seeing him play when he was a rookie, you talk about high flying offense.
Remember indirectly Shanahan helped us win the cup 3 times by causing Scott Stevens to be added to the team.
Posted by: MoonDragn | January 20, 2009 at 01:16 AM
what was the line combo Shanahan was on the most tonight?
Posted by: modnarm | January 20, 2009 at 01:19 AM
just thought i'd add that Elias, Parise, Rolston, Shanahan is probably one of the nastiest group of LW in the league. Crazy LW depth we have this year. if only the same could be said for our RW. Gionta, Langenbrunner, Clarkson, Rupp. a little more down to earth... as well as the centers. but man.. our LWs are huge for us.
Posted by: modnarm | January 20, 2009 at 01:21 AM
@ Moonddragn...
He played with Rupp and Holik..
Posted by: Brodeur30 | January 20, 2009 at 01:43 AM
he did have at least one shift with madden and rolston unless that was just him jumping on for his next shift while those two were still out, but since the positions are wrong and it lasted a decent bit ...
Personally I couldn't have been happier with shanny's first game of the season. he seamed dangerous every time he had the puck. you could definatly see the rust here and there mostly in his timing (he missed a few one-timers that come to mind). but over all he played well defensively, scored on the PP, got shots with limited time, and made good on the trust the coaches had in him late in the game with his puck-possesion down low in the offensive zone to kill some time.
Lou is looking sly as ever with this one! haha $382,000 ... only Lou could make that happen.
Posted by: josh | January 20, 2009 at 03:16 AM
Shanny played a terrific game. With that move he made on the Predators defenseman on the PP, you can tell he still has something left to contribute. He's adding another layer of depth to our offense. The price was a steal. A cap hit of less than $400K. That's an amazing deal.
Speaking of oldtime Devils returning with the team, Rolston is playing really well lately. He picked up two assists tonight. He has eight goals and could very well score at least 20 this year if this level of play continues. Not bad, considering the injury took him out for a large chunk of the season.
Posted by: Puckster | January 20, 2009 at 04:10 AM
Awesome road trip. Couldn't be more impressed. Stoked to see them in 1st place through the break (hopefully)! Shanny is solid, D is playing well, Clemmer is still good. NO MORE INJURIES and we'll give Detroit a run for that cup.
Posted by: Maxwell | January 20, 2009 at 04:21 AM
We dressed our best team (minus Marty) of the season last night. I still think there's one or two components missing. But we're playing well right now.
I also don't think 1st is something we need. I think we're hungrier if we're not in first.
Posted by: Falcone | January 20, 2009 at 08:16 AM
Sergei who?????? Nice job #18.
Posted by: kid lenola | January 20, 2009 at 08:22 AM
excellent. Shanny led the team in shots on goal, looked great conditioning wise. Solid team.
Posted by: bngstr | January 20, 2009 at 08:23 AM
Falcone...I agree, i hate seeing this team peak to soon but if its gonna happen i'd love to see the Devils chase down Boston and sit atop the EC. Welcome back Shanny.
Posted by: zman | January 20, 2009 at 08:28 AM
agreed that Shanahan looked good out there, that he never missed a step after not playing since May. After seeming to skate like a slug with the Rangers last year, was it just me or did it seem that Shanahan was moving pretty well out there on the ice. Maybe just an extra spring in his step for his season debut, or maybe he worked on his skating while practicing.
Oh, and don't let anyone fool you. I don't think Shanahan was in it for the $$$ at all this season, the Rangers easily could have cleared cap room for him. They could have sent Rissmiller and Fritche down to the AHL out of training camp. No, it was actually Renney who for some reason didn't want Shanahan back, and stonewalled Sather from resigning him. Remember Renney was playing Shanahan on the 4th line with Betts and Orr at the end of the season and playoffs. Maybe Renney just preferred younger players.
Their loss is definitely our gain...
Posted by: mikeP | January 20, 2009 at 08:52 AM
Can we top 14k attendance Wednesday night and show this team that their fans support them 100% and are jacked up?
Posted by: Jack | January 20, 2009 at 12:53 PM
The play on Fiddler with about 90 seconds to go where he backchecked him in the slot preventing Fiddler from shooting kept the game at 2-1, and got the Devils the win. that may have been his biggest play of the night.
Posted by: steve | January 20, 2009 at 01:46 PM
Read the blog all the time - great job, TG. I'll be there Wednesday. Also, I agree with Falcone on the Devils dressing their best lineup (minus Marty) to date. The Habs will be playing games on consecutive nights, and their returning injured guys may not be up to speed, so it's a chance to grab a big win before the ASB. I for one did not mind Shanny skating with Rolston and Madden, though I know some here have reservations about it. Also, Rupp taking on Belak - you could say it was to give the team a spark after a rough start, but it seems like he's literally fighting for a roster spot. Not a judgment, just an observation. Thoughts?
Posted by: moosamus | January 20, 2009 at 02:43 PM