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Islanders fan makes $1,000 shot from center ice in ‘electric’ moment

If only this fan were on the ice in overtime.

Diehard Islanders fan Sean Umhafer went viral by making the shot of a lifetime from center ice as he won a $1,000 Ticketmaster voucher during an intermission of New York’s crushing 2-1 OT loss to the Oilers Friday night.

“Every single dollar will probably go to more Islanders tickets,” Umhafer, who scored the golden goal into a net that was entirely covered except for three teensy prize slots, told The Post.

“That was electric,” he added of going five-hole and making the jackpot in the smallest box.

Umhafer, a 29-year-old legal tech salesman from Massapequa Park, is no stranger to hockey as he plays in three men’s leagues and even had a game on UBS Arena ice in the past.

However, Friday night had a touch of fate that led him to glory between the second and third periods.

“My friend and I took an earlier train than we normally do,” Umhafer said. “We were hanging out at a bar in the arena, and a lady with the team just came up to us and asked, ‘Do any of you play hockey?’”

Just like that, all eyes were on the recreational forward as he admitted the crowd — 15,879 — was more than a tad bigger than his last game at Belmont.

An Islanders fan took a shot from center ice on Friday night. Alex Mitchell/X

“I kept thinking, I play three nights a week,” Umhafer, a former season ticket holder, said. “I better at least get close.”

His first try slid way right of the net as fans — already irked the Islanders were down 1-0 at the time — reigned boos. They were so loud it could be heard on video captured by Umhafer’s friend Brett Ansbacher.

In his defense, the seasoned hockey player had to use an oversized stick that was poking his chest.

He made the shot and celebrated in style. Alex Mitchell/X

Sensing the “nerves” and tension, Islanders public address announcer Andrew Sykora passed along some golden advice to Umhafer before shooting again.

“He said, ‘Take your time’ because I was trying to rush it,” Umhafer said. “Then I was like, ‘You know what, I am going to take my time — I’m going to take a second, play with the puck a little bit.”

Then the magic happened as the Isles faithful roared for the first home goal of the night.

The viral moment has since been picked up on hockey social media by major pages like Bardown and the Islanders’ own Instagram.

Sean Umhafer won a $1,000 Ticketmaster voucher. Alex Mitchell/X
Umhafer is no stranger to hockey. Courtesy Sean Umhafer

“In the moment, I did my normal celly that I do after scoring in my men’s league,” he said of dropping to one knee and fist-pumping to the stunned crowd.

This time, however, Umhafer pulled out a pair of sunglasses and looked “cool, calm, and collected” to the camera.

“You’ve gotta act like you’ve been here before,” he said. “The glasses were a cherry on top.”



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