"No Retreat, No Surrender!" from the movie "300" boomed from Garden speakers on Tuesday evening.
But, first, I walked from work in Columbus Circle through Times Square where there was a double-decker bus. I didn't get a good photo of the front or side of the bus as I was trying to scalp tickets off of the passengers while they were stopped at a stoplight. However, I think the following photo captures the festive mood of Times Square with the Rangers bus pulling away on the right, the Naked Cowboy on the lower left, and a bunch of tourists and billboards.
I kept walking down to the Garden and scalped a ticket nearby. As I entered the Garden, I was honored to meet Joey Salvia and Don LaGreca from the Michael Kay show on 1050 ESPN AM radio. Michael was broadcasting live from Yankee Stadium.
My scalped ticket was thankfully legit (touch wood) and I was psyched to enter the Garden.
Retired FDNY fireman Daniel Rodriguez sang a stirring rendition of the National Anthem. Well done Daniel!
"This is where we hold them, this is where we fight!" again from "300" amplified from the speakers and the crowd roared with approval. The puck is dropped and away we go.
Even before I could warm my thumbs up to start typing on my Blackberry, Nylander scored 32 seconds into the game. Nylander was assisted by Jagr and Malik. The crowd roars. Rangers 1 - Thrashers 0.
The Rangers controlled the tempo early pressuring the Thrashers with repeated rushes in their end. The Rangers and their fans smell blood and the Garden erupts. There is nothing like the Garden Organ, even between than the Yankee Organ because of the kick arse acoustics of the Garden.
At 9:45 of the first period, Nylander scored again assisted by Hossa and Jagr. Forget blood, this ice rink could down as a shark tank. (Pun intended!) Rangers 2 - Thrashers 0.
The Tank thought the crowd was chanting "A-oooo!" as in "300" but it was Avery who was penalized two minutes for checking and de Vries from the Thrashers for checking. On a related note, if the players slammed their sticks perpendicularly into the ice like battle spears into the ground as in "300", the crowd would have shouted "A-ooooo!"
The Thrashers tried to counter attack but Lundqvist swatted a chest high shot like a fly on an elephant. Get outta here! Fughedaboutit!
Moments later at 12:26 of the first period, Malik scored assisted by Nylander and Jagr. Forget blood, call the coroner! Rangers 3 - Thrashers 0.
The Rangers domination continued with Pock diquing and passing the puck around his opponent like a pylon cone in a drill.
A Jagrmeister shout erupts behind me! Another drunk guy behind me almost jinxes the Rangers but I warn him before its too late.
During a timeout, the crowd goes crazy when Jeff Beukeboom shows his 1994 Stanley Cup ring to the crowd.
Back to the action, Lundqvist stops Brad Larsenon a breakaway. Sweet! Lundqvist is standing on his head.
The "Potvin Sucks" cheer rings out. I turn to Michelle and tell her that it never gets old. "Nope," she replies.
At the end of the first period, Rangers 3 - Thrashers 0. The Rangers out shot the Thrasher 13 to 7.
In between periods, it was great catching up with friend and former boss John, John's son Tom, and friend and former co-worker Rich.
As I got back late to my seat, the Thrashers were penalized for two minutes for Two Many Men on the ice at 4:05. The Thrashers must really be getting desperate. 
Thanks to Michelle for the heads-up on the penalty as I was late getting back to my seat. Michelle and her sister Christine are season ticket holders pictured below.
Callahan assisted by Avery and Tyutin at 6:27. Rangers 4 - Thrashers 0. I am running out of adjectives.
The crowd applauds as "Bobby" from the Sopranos is shown on the screen.
Lundqvist stones a direct on shot and continues to put on a clinic. To present in the series, the Rangers have out shot the Thrashers 98 to 70 according to the screen.
Michael Lombardi from "Rescue Me" is shown on the screen.
Callahan assisted by Mara and Avery at 2:39. Rangers 5 - Thrashers 0. Katrina and the Waves "Walkin' on Sunshine" should be renamed "Skatin' on Sunshine".
ACDC's "Thunderstruck" blares as Cara Buono from the Sopranos is show on the screen.
At the end of the second period, Rangers 5 - Thrashers 0.
In the spirit of each time, the sisters Christine and Michelle were to my right and a father and his son, Gary and Adam, were to my left. Adam missed the first goal because of train delays. Adam cried many a crocodile tear as his sister couldn't make the first or second round of the playoffs. If the Rangers go deeper, I wouldn't want to reconcile that potential family feud.
The Rangers almost a shorthanded goal. Wow!
There was a fight at 3:51, just as John predicted during intermission.
The infamous Atlanta Brave Tomahawk chant is used against the Thrashers. Time to dance to "Yeah!" Fan favorite Dancing Larry gets the crowd going as the spotlight shines on him.
At 8:58, Shanahan scores a power play goal assisted by Cullen and Pock. Rangers 6 - Thrashers 0.
"Henri" chant as the Thrashers are called for off sides at 11:51.
"Hit the road jack" plays overhead as two Thrasher fans are showed on the main screen.
Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline" rings out. "Good times never been so good.". Well done Neil. That song was written for tonight and the night that the Tank saw Neil at the Garden on Saturday, August 20, 2005. If you haven't seen Neil live, you should and you're in for a treat.
Hats in the ring for Nylander's hat trick. Wooooo!!!! Rangers 7 - Thrashers 0. The Rangers 35 have out shot the Thrashers 35 - 21.
"Henri!" Chants ring out and gets a standing ovation.
The crowd stands for the last 1:30. The rally towels are waving. The crowd's cheers reach a fever pitch as the final seconds tick off. The horn goes off and the Rangers beat Atlanta 7-0. It was a victory of historic proportions as I heard Don LaGreca checking the record books back to 1932. I lost the radio signal in the towers exiting the Garden but I think it's safe to say there hasn't been a victory like this in quite some time. The Rangers lead the series 3 games to none.
The Rangers raise their sticks to thank the crowd and the gratitude is returned many fold to them.
The three Stars of the Game are third star Henri Lundqvist #3 with 21 saves, second star is Ryan Callahan, and first star is the man with the hat trick, Michael Nylander.
In the post-game ringside interview, Al Trautwig says the Rangers win by a touchdown, 7-0. As a karmic coincidence, the Yankees and Mets also won their games by touchdown, 10-3 and 8-1, over the Cleveland Indians and Philadelphia Phillies, respectively.
Let's go Rangers, Yankees, and Mets!
Posted by the Tank Live from the World's Greatest Arena, Madison Square Garden, in NY.