The New York Rangers have experienced plenty of ups and downs over the years. As one of the league’s “Original Six,” the Rangers captured three titles in their earliest years, before enduring one of the longest title droughts in professional sports. The Rangers eventually overcame the fabled “Curse of 1940”, but the years to follow have been a rollercoaster of sorts. In this presentation, Matt Doheny includes a few of the Broadway Blueshirts’ most memorable moments…the good, the bad, and the awful.

1. New York Rangers: 7 Most
Memorable Moments
By Matt Doheny

2. History
The New York
Rangers have
experienced plenty
of ups and downs
over the years.

3. “Original Six”
As one of the
league’s “Original
Six,” the Rangers
captured three titles
in their earliest years,
before enduring one
of the longest title
droughts in
professional sports.

4. “Curse of
1940”
The Rangers eventually overcame
the fabled “Curse of 1940”, but
the years to follow have been a
rollercoaster of sorts.

5. Here are a few of the Broadway
Blueshirts’ most memorable moments…
the good, the bad, and the awful.

6. The Rangers
Take New
York

7. 1926 Rangers v.
Americans
The Rangers first
came on the scene
in 1926, one year
after their New York
rivals, the
Americans.
Photo Source: thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com

8. Stanley Cup Win
Though popular in
their own right, the
now-defunct
“Amerks” were
quickly forgotten
after the Rangers
won the Stanley Cup
in just their second
season.

9. 1942 Americans
“Retirement”
The Rangers went on
to win two more
titles in 1933 and
1940 while the
Americans were
forced to retire the
franchise in 1942 due
to financial hardship.
Photo Source: borizlifestyles-com.3dcartstores.com

10. J.P. Parise
Destroys the
Ranger’s
Hopes

11. 1940 Title Champions
After winning the
title in 1940, the
Rangers entered into
a long era of
disappointment.
Photo Source: rangers.nhl.com

12. Return of 1950
The once dominant
franchise wouldn’t
return to the finals
until 1950, where they
suffered an overtime
loss against the
Detroit Red Wings in
Game 7 of the series.
Photo Source: (Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings and
Vic Howe, New York Rangers) by www.pinterest.com

13. 1972 Loss to Boston
Bruins
The Rangers once
again failed to
capture the Cup in
1972, falling to the
Boston Bruins in six
games.
Photo Source: icehockey.wikia.com

14. 1975 Playoffs
However, it was the
1975 playoffs that
truly left its mark on
the franchise.
Photo Source: 1975-1976 Rangers Team Photo by
rangers.nhl.com

15. NY Rangers v. NY
Islanders
The Rangers fought
an intense first
round series against
hometown
newcomers, the New
York Islanders.

16. J.P. Parise Scores Big
Heading into a
decisive Game 3, the
Rangers would
experience a
devastating defeat
when left winger J. P.
Parise scored the
winning goal eleven
seconds into overtime.
Photo Source: www.nytimes.com

17. The Rangers
Bounce Back

18. “Cursed”
Despite the brewing
sentiment that the
Rangers were
cursed to never
again win the
Stanley Cup, the
team would not be
deterred.

19. 1979 Playoffs
Spurred by stellar
play from Phil
Esposito, Don
Maloney, and John
Davidson, just to
name a few, the
Rangers went on a
playoff run for the
ages in 1979.
Photo Source: rangers.nhl.com

20. ’79 Stanley Cup Finals
Besting the top-
seeded Islanders in
six games, the
Rangers would
eventually face the
Montreal Canadiens
in the 79 Stanley Cup
Finals.

21. Heartbreaking Loss
Unfortunately, it
would be over a
decade before the
curse was truly
broken as the
Rangers fell to the
Canadiens in five.
Photo Source: montrealgazette.com

22. Postseason Reflections
Still, the memory of
that postseason run
remains a happy one
for the Ranger fans
lucky enough to
witness it.

23. Mark Messier
Guarantees
Victory

24. 1994 Playoffs
It’s difficult to single
out just one moment
from the Ranger’s
legendary 1994 playoffs
performance.
However, there is one
name that stands out
ever so slightly over the
rest…
Photo Source: www.amazon.com

25. Mark Messier
When Messier joined
the Rangers in 1991,
he had every
intention of ending
the franchise’s 50-
year title drought.
Photo Source: www.nydailynews.com

26. Conference Finals
Three seasons later,
the Rangers found
themselves in a 3-2
deficit against the
New Jersey Devils in
the Eastern
Conference finals.
Photo Source: bleacherreport.com

27. Strategic Media Play
Sensing his team
needed a confidence
boost, Messier
personally
guaranteed
reporters that the
Rangers would win
Game 6.
Photo Source: www.youtube.com

28. Making Good On His
Word
Messier delivered on
his promise, scoring
a hat trick in the
third period that
changed the
momentum of the
game.
Photo Source: www.thestar.com

29. Stephane Matteau
The Rangers took
Game 6 and surged
into Game 7 where
they closed out the
series on an iconic
wraparound goal
from Stephane
Matteau in double
overtime.
Photo Source: STEPHANE MATTEAU OVERTIME GOAL,
1994 by www.nydailynews.com

30. The Curse Finally Ends
The Rangers went on
to defeat the
Vancouver Canucks
in the Stanley Cup
finals, making
history and finally
putting an end to the
franchise’s curse.
Photo Source: alchetron.com

31. The Great One
Joins The
Messiah

32. Wayne Gretzky
When Wayne Gretzky
reunited with former
Edmonton Oilers
teammate Mark Messier
in 1996, Rangers fans
were optimistic that the
legendary duo would
bring another
championship to New
York.

33. However, the fantasy was
short lived.
The Rangers were
defeated in the 1997
Eastern Conference
finals, and Messier
left for Vancouver.
Photo Source: rangers.nhl.com

34. Gretzky 1999 Retirement
A past-prime
Gretzky failed to get
the team to the
playoffs, retiring
from the NHL in
1999.
Photo Source: www.lessignets.com

35. Tragedy
Strikes

36. Jaromir Jagr
After years of failing
to make the playoffs,
the Rangers began to
experience a
resurgence with a
team of young,
talented players built
around superstar
Jaromir Jagr.
Image Source: www.wsj.com

37. Alexei Cherepanov
Hopes were on high
when the Rangers
drafted Russian
winger Alexi
Cherepanov in the
2007 draft.
Photo Source: www.nydailynews.com

38. NY Rangers “Hopeful
Prose”
Despite some
concerns that
Cherepanov would
never play in the NHL,
the Rangers were
hopeful they would
get the highly touted
prospect to New York
within a few seasons.
Image Source: www.therichest.com

39. Tragedy on Oct. 13, 2008
On October 13 of 2008,
Cherepanov collapsed on
the bench during a KHL
game against Vityaz
Chekhov.
He was pronounced dead
later that day, leaving
countless Ranger fans
devastated and wondering
what could have been.
Image Source: puckagency.wordpress.com

40. The Rangers
Return to the
Finals

41. Team’s Optimistic Outlook
If there is one thing
Rangers fans know,
it’s that no matter
how dark things
seem, there will
always be light at
the end of the
tunnel.
Photo Source: splittheuprights.wordpress.com

42. 2014 Playoffs
In the 2014 playoffs,
the Broadway
Blueshirts bounced
back from a 3-1
deficit to beat the
Pittsburgh Penguins
in the second round.

43. 2014 Finals
They went on to
defeat the Montreal
Canadiens, before
ultimately
succumbing to the
Los Angeles Kings in
the Stanley Cup
finals.

44. Rangers Make it to the
Cup
It was the team’s first
finals appearance in
20 years, but Ranger
fans likely won’t
have to wait that long
before they get
another chance at the
Cup.
Photo Source: www.pinterest.com

46. If you liked this piece,
please visit:
MattDoheny.org
Matthew “Matt” A. Doheny holds an
extensive curriculum vitae as an
entrepreneur, finance expert and political
pundit which features past and current
successes in the industries of the
investment fund, distressed asset and
financial management. Presently, Matt
Doheny serves on the board of Kodak Co.
and Yellow Truck. He also functions as a
Director of Affinity Gaming, and has done
so since 2013.