Islanders' Cup-winning goal photo from 1980 most special to Bennett

Legendary hockey reporter Stan Fischler writes a weekly scrapbook for NHL.com. Fischler, known as "The Hockey Maven," shares his humor and insight with readers each Wednesday.
This week, Fischler presents one of his favorite themes: A Picture Is Worth 100 Words. Highly-acclaimed hockey photographer Bruce Bennett selected his favorite picture from almost a half-century of working NHL games, and it is shown here.

A Long Island native, Bruce Bennett began his professional photography career in 1974 shooting games at Madison Square Garden and Nassau Coliseum. He has since worked more than 5,000 NHL regular-season and Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Bennett's favorite photo (pictured here) was taken at the Coliseum on May 24,1980. Bob Nystrom of the New York Islanders (center, leaping) had just scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal in overtime against the Philadelphia Flyers. Teammate Lorne Henning (left) joins Nystrom and Philadelphia's Mel Bridgman (10) and Bob Dailey look on.
"The photo has a special significance," Bennett told me, "because Nystrom's goal meant so much to the growth of the franchise and to the Long Island region establishing its own identity. And, as a lifelong resident and a person who loves life on Long Island, it holds a special meaning to me as well."
Though his favorite photo is from 43 years ago, Bennett is still capturing NHL action to this day.
"I'm in my 49th year of shooting hockey and still loving every minute," Bennett said. "I can't picture life without it."