1978-1979 New York Rangers: Big Apple Revival

1978-1979 New York Rangers: Big Apple Revival

1978-1979 New York Rangers: Big Apple Revival

At times throughout the 1970’s the New York Rangers were an NHL team that got close when it came to competing for the Stanley Cup. The Rangers were unable to win the Stanley Cup in the 1970’s, however, and the end of the 1970’s was a last great chance for the Rangers to win it all.

The Rangers went 40-29-11 with 91 points in the 1978-1979 NHL season, finishing 25 points behind the New York Islanders in the Patrick Division. The Rangers went 19-13-8 on their home ice at Madison Square Garden while they went 21-16-3 on the road.

In head-to-head play the Rangers went 4-0 against the Chicago Blackhawks and Vancouver Canucks, 4-1 against the Colorado Rockies, 3-1 against the Los Angeles Kings and Montreal Canadiens, 3-2 against the St. Louis Blues, 2-1-1 against the Buffalo Sabres, 2-2-1 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, 2-2 against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and 1-1-2 against the Washington Capitals.

Center Phil Esposito had 42 goals and 36 assists for 78 points with 14 power play goals, 12 power play assists and 7 game-winning goals off 215 shots. Left winger Pat Hickey had 34 goals and 41 assists for 75 points with 8 power play goals and 10 power play assists off 193 shots. Right winger Anders Hedberg had 33 goals and 45 assists for 78 points with 6 power play goals, 14 power play assists and 5 game-winning goals off 214 shots.

Center Ulf Nilsson had 27 goals and 39 assists for 66 points with 8 power play goals and 10 power play assists off 96 shots. Center Ron Duguay had 27 goals and 36 assists for 63 points off 178 shots. Defenseman Mike McEwen had 20 goals and 38 assists for 58 points with 7 power play goals and 13 power play assists off 204 shots. Defenseman Ron Greschner had 17 goals and 36 assists for 53 points with 8 power play goals and 12 power play assists off 153 shots. Center Walt Tkaczuk had 15 goals and 27 assists for 42 points off 134 shots.

Right winger Don Murdoch had 15 goals and 22 assists with 7 power play assists off 133 shots. Left winger Steve Vickers had 13 goals and 34 assists for 47 points with 8 power play assists. Right winger Dean Talafous had 13 goals and 16 assists in 68 games. Right winger Lucien DeBlois had 11 goals and 17 assists with 5 power play assists off 106 shots. Defenseman Dave Maloney had 11 goals and 17 assists, but being the Captain of the team, Maloney was mainly known for being a bruiser as he spent 151 minutes in the penalty box.

Goaltender John Davidson went 20-12-5, allowing 131 goals in 2232 minutes and recording a 3.52 goals against average. Goaltender Wayne Thomas went 15-10-3, allowing 101 goals in 1668 minutes, recording a 3.63 goals against average and 1 shutout.

During the regular season the Rangers enjoyed a 7-game winning streak which began with a 2-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 22, and this winning streak ended with a 5-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on November 5.

The playoffs served as a mountain that was hard for the Rangers to climb throughout the 1970’s, and this time they were able to climb up most of this mountain. In the Preliminary Round the Rangers made quick work of the Los Angeles Kings as they swept the Kings 2 games to none. In Game 1 on April 10 at Madison Square Garden the Rangers pounded the Kings 7-1, and then in Game 2 on April 12 at the Great Western Forum the Rangers beat the Kings 2-1 in overtime.

The NHL Quarterfinals featured the New York Rangers playing against the Philadelphia Flyers, a proven Stanley Cup winning team in the 1970’s. The Flyers defeated the Rangers 3-2 in Game 1 on April 16 at The Spectrum. However, the series would be all New York from there as they pounded the Flyers 7-1 in Game 2 on April 18. In Game 3 on April 20 at Madison Square Garden the Rangers beat the Flyers 5-1. In Game 4 on April 22 the Rangers blanked the Flyers 6-0. In Game 5 on April 24 at the Spectrum the Rangers finished off the Flyers with an 8-3 victory.

The NHL Semifinals featured the New York Rangers and the New York Islanders, and in a battle of Patrick Division foes the Rangers eliminated the Islanders 4 games to 2. In Game 1 on April 26 at Nassau Coliseum the Rangers won 4-1. In Game 2 on April 28 the Islanders won 4-3 in overtime. In Game 3 on May 1 at Madison Square Garden the Rangers won 3-1. In Game 4 on May 3 the Islanders defeated the Rangers 3-2 in overtime. In Game 5 on May 5 at Nassau Coliseum the Rangers beat the Islanders 4-3. In Game 6 the Rangers would put away the Islanders by the score of 2-1 on May 8 at Madison Square Garden.

The 1979 Stanley Cup Finals appeared to be a favorable matchup for the New York Rangers as they faced a team they beat more than they lost to in the regular season, which were the Montreal Canadiens. Unfortunately for the Rangers it wasn’t meant to be as the Canadiens won the Stanley Cup 4 games to 1. In Game 1 on May 13 at the Montreal Forum the Rangers beat the Canadiens 4-1. From there, though, the Canadiens won 4 straight games.

The New York Rangers organization would have to wait 15 more years before they could finally complete their climb of the mountain and capture a Stanley Cup win. The beginning of hoping for a Big Apple revival in hockey clearly began in the 1970’s.