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Shanahan, Valiquette lift Rangers past Maple Leafs

Nov 11, 2007 - 5:15 AM TORONTO (Ticker) -- Brendan Shanahan had quite the impressive showing during the NHL's annual "Hall of Fame" game.

Shanahan had a goal in regulation and joined Marcel Hossa in scoring in the shootout as the New York Rangers defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs, 3-2, on Saturday in a battle of "Original Six" teams.

On Monday, the Hall of Fame officially will welcome Mark Messier, Ron Francis, Al MacInnis and Scott Stevens in the players category, while Jim Gregory will be added in the builders category.

"We talked a bit about having a big win on Mark Messier's big weekend," Shanahan said. "He was in the dressing room before the game, and with him here, we wanted to have a proud showing for the New York Rangers on this weekend."

Steve Valiquette, who was making his first start of the season, stopped Nik Antropov and Mats Sundin in the bonus format to preserve the victory. Valiquette, a Toronto native, finished the game with 32 saves.

"Considering the magnitude of the game, I was as calm as I could be," Valiquette said of playing in Toronto. "With the opening ceremony and everyone famous out for the game, I was just trying to focus on what I should do, which is be square to the puck, beat the pass and play an east-to-west game."

Shanahan, also a Toronto native, was proud of Valiquette.

"For Steve Valiquette to get a win, in a shootout, in his hometown was great," Shanahan said.

Henrik Lundqvist started the first 16 games of the season for the Rangers, who earned their first victory on the road in seven tries this campaign.

Valiquette's last victory, ironically, came in a shootout against the St. Louis Blues in March at Madison Square Garden.

"I've had some experience in shootouts in the ECHL and the AHL," Valiquette said. "I try and not think of the shooters' tendencies and simply play them as they come down. It was great to get this win, in this fashion, with my family and friends in the stands."

Shanahan opened the scoring at 1:43 of the second period.

The future Hall of Famer scored his fifth goal of the season after finishing off a perfect behind-the-back pass from Sean Avery to beat netminder Vesa Toskala.

Shanahan returned the favor to Avery just 42 seconds later.

Scott Gomez's blast produced a rebound, which Shanahan hit out of mid-air right onto the stick of Avery at the side of the net. The agitator simply tapped in the puck for his second goal of the campaign.

With New York leading, 2-0, Alexei Ponikarovsky scored goals exactly two minutes apart to level the game.

Ponikarovsky halved the deficit for the Maple Leafs with three minutes remaining in the second period. After accepting a feed from fellow Russian Antropov, Ponikarovsky blasted the puck from the right faceoff circle that sailed over Valiquette's left shoulder and just under the crossbar.

Ponikarovsky tied it with 66 seconds remaining in the second period.

Toronto captain Mats Sundin skated in on net, but after he was unable to register a shot, teammate Jason Blake weakly put the puck on goal. Valiquette made the save but unwittingly left the rebound in front for Ponikarovsky, who wristed it in to tie the game at 2-2.

"Everyone played hard tonight, it was the second game in two nights for us," Ponikarovsky said. "We tried hard to get it in regulation. A shootout is what I call the same as 'Russian Roulette.' It's kind of a 1-on-1 battle - who has the more skill or luck wins it."

Toskala finished with 25 saves for Toronto.