Blue Line Station
Fansided

New York Rangers all-time top forward lines

By Jim Madden

New York Rangers Jaromir Jagr and Martin Straka in action against the Tampa Bay Lighting. New York Rangers defeat the Tampa Bay Lighting 4-2 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York on December 22, 2005. (Photo by Dave Saffran/NHLImages)
New York Rangers Jaromir Jagr and Martin Straka in action against the Tampa Bay Lighting. New York Rangers defeat the Tampa Bay Lighting 4-2 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York on December 22, 2005. (Photo by Dave Saffran/NHLImages) /
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NEW YORK, NY – 1980: Phil Esposito #77 of the New York Rangers celebrates with teammate Don Maloney #12 during an NHL game circa 1980 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – 1980: Phil Esposito #77 of the New York Rangers celebrates with teammate Don Maloney #12 during an NHL game circa 1980 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images) /

# 10 – The Godfather line

The 1978-79 Rangers got off to a quick start with their number one line of Ulf Nilsson, Anders Hedberg and Pat Hickey torching the league at a record pace.  They received a shot in the arm when the NHL reinstated suspended winger Don Murdoch in January.  Murdoch was put on a line with Esposito and registered a hat trick in his second game back.  Second round draft pick Don Maloney was called up from New Haven to the Rangers and inserted as left wing with Esposito and Murdoch and became the Godfather Line; Esposito as The Godfather between the “two Don’s”.  They became an instant hit.

With the loss of Nilsson for the rest of the regular season in late February, the Godfather line was elevated to the top spot.  Maloney (9-17-26 in 28 games) was the line’s digger with Murdoch (15-22-37 in 40 games) as the sniping speedster anchoring the right side.   The 36-year-old scoring machine Esposito drinking from a fountain of youth led the team in scoring (42-36-78 points) for the third consecutive season cracking the forty goal barrier for the first time in four seasons.

The Rangers advanced to the Stanley Cup finals that season largely on the backs of this newly formed dynamic trio.  Esposito’s overtime goal in game two of the preliminary round eliminated the Los Angeles Kings.  They then knocked off the Philadelphia Flyers in five games with the Godfather line scoring 10 of the 28 Ranger goals scored in the series including two game winners with Esposito the leading scorer of the series with 10 points.

Against the heavily favored Islanders, the Rangers pulled off the huge upset with the Godfather line scoring seven of the 18 goals scored in the series. Esposito notched the game winner in game three while the line set up Ron Greschner for the series clinching goal in game six.  Maloney led all scorers in the semifinals with eight points and would set the rookie playoff scoring record with 20 points.

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