1978-1979 New York Rangers Cup Run

1978-1979 New York Rangers Cup Run

1978-1979 New York Rangers: Big Apple Revival

At times throughout the 1970s, the New York Rangers came close to winning the Stanley Cup. Still, they did not win one that decade, and the end of the 1970s was their last great chance to win it all. That chance came with the 1978-1979 New York Rangers.

A Strong Regular Season

The 1978-1979 New York 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 home ice at Madison Square Garden and 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.

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

The Players Behind the Revival

Forwards and Defensemen

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 on 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 on 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 on 214 shots.

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

Right winger Don Murdoch had 15 goals and 22 assists, with 7 power play assists on 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 on 106 shots. Defenseman Dave Maloney, the team’s captain, had 11 goals and 17 assists, but he was mainly known as a bruiser and spent 151 minutes in the penalty box.

Goaltending

Goaltender John Davidson went 20-12-5, allowing 131 goals in 2,232 minutes for a 3.52 goals against average. Goaltender Wayne Thomas went 15-10-3, allowing 101 goals in 1,668 minutes for a 3.63 goals against average and 1 shutout.

Climbing the Playoff Mountain

Throughout the 1970s, the playoffs were a mountain the Rangers struggled to climb, but in the 1979 Stanley Cup Playoffs they made it most of the way up.

Preliminary Round vs. Los Angeles Kings

In the Preliminary Round, the Rangers made quick work of the Los Angeles Kings, sweeping them 2 games to none. In Game 1 on April 10 at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers pounded the Kings 7-1. Then in Game 2 on April 12 at the Great Western Forum, the Rangers beat the Kings 2-1 in overtime.

Quarterfinals vs. Philadelphia Flyers

The NHL Quarterfinals pitted the Rangers against the Philadelphia Flyers, a proven Stanley Cup-winning team of the 1970s. The Flyers beat the Rangers 3-2 in Game 1 on April 16 at the Spectrum. After that, the series was all New York. The Rangers 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.

Semifinals vs. New York Islanders

The NHL Semifinals featured the New York Rangers and the New York Islanders. In this 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 beat 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 on May 8 at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers put away the Islanders by a score of 2-1.

Stanley Cup Finals vs. Montreal Canadiens

The 1979 Stanley Cup Finals looked like a favorable matchup for the Rangers because they faced the Montreal Canadiens, a team they had beaten more often than not in the regular season. Unfortunately for the Rangers, it wasn’t meant to be, as the Canadiens won the Stanley Cup 4 games to 1. The Rangers won Game 1 by beating the Canadiens 4-1 on May 13 at the Montreal Forum. After that, the Canadiens won 4 straight games.

Waiting for a Big Apple Revival

The New York Rangers had to wait 15 more years before they finally finished their climb up the mountain and won the Stanley Cup. Still, the 1978-1979 New York Rangers clearly started the hope for a Big Apple revival in hockey back in the 1970s.