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New York Rangers goalies revisited: The Cup winners

By Brett Schultz |
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 06: Former New York Ranger Mike Richter attends Sheraton Hotels & Resorts presents the NHL Stanley Cup with former New York Ranger Mike Richter at Sheraton New York Times Square on May 6, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Sheraton Hotels & Resorts)
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 06: Former New York Ranger Mike Richter attends Sheraton Hotels & Resorts presents the NHL Stanley Cup with former New York Ranger Mike Richter at Sheraton New York Times Square on May 6, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Sheraton Hotels & Resorts)
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JUNE 11, 1994: Mike Richter #35 of the New York Rangers during Game 6 of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals (Photo by Mike Powell/Getty Images)
JUNE 11, 1994: Mike Richter #35 of the New York Rangers during Game 6 of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals (Photo by Mike Powell/Getty Images) /

For a franchise that started almost a hundred years ago, the New York Rangers have a surprisingly small club of goalies who brought home a Stanley Cup.

As we continue our look at New York Rangers goalies of the past, it’s time to profile the elite, the handful that won hockey’s Holy Grail. The Blueshirts entered the NHL in the 1926-27 season and it didn’t take them long to become league champions.  What’s interesting is three goaltenders were needed to win that first Stanley Cup.

Lorne Chabot played in the NHL from 1926 to 1937, won the Vezina Trophy in 1935, and was a member of two Cup-winning teams.

He was the goalie who took the 1927-28 Rangers to a championship in only their second year of existence, though it didn’t come without drama. And a few elephants. The circus had already booked Madison Square Garden, forcing the Rangers to play their Finals games in Montreal, though the Bruins did offer to let New York ‘host’ home games in Boston.

In Game 2 of the Finals against the Montreal Maroons, a shot from Nels Steward hit Chabot in the eye, taking him out of the playoffs. This was the catalyst for 44-year-old coach Lester Patrick taking over in goal as the Rangers won 2-1 in overtime. It’s a New York sports legend right up there with Willis Reed’s surprise Game 7 appearance in the 1970 NBA Finals for the Knicks.

The Rangers had to borrow a goalie from the New York Americans, Joe “Red Light” Miller, for the next three games, winning two of them, and their initial championship. They were the first non-Canadian team to win the Cup, and the only road team to clinch a title in the Montreal Forum until 1989.

Ironically enough, Chabot won his second Stanley Cup when he led the 1931-32 Toronto Maple Leafs to the finals. The opponent they beat? The New York Rangers.

Lorne Chabot trivia:

The Rangers sometimes listed Chabot as Lorne “Chabotsky”, trying to draw more Jewish fans.

Chabot played in the two longest games in NHL history, a pair of six-overtime, 1-0 marathons, winning one and losing one.

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In his rookie NHL season, Andy Aitkenhead led New York to their second-ever Stanley Cup, with an overtime shutout to clinch the 1932-33 championship against the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Rangers’ old friend, Lorne Chabot.

In 1935, Aitkenhead struggled and lost his job to Dave Kerr.

After short stints with the New York Americans and Montreal Maroons, Dave Kerr played six seasons for the Rangers from 1934-1941. He was in goal for all 48 games in five straight seasons (and 47 games in another). 1940 was the year he took the Rangers to their third Stanley Cup win. And their last for over half a century.

That season, Kerr posted a 1.54 GAA, with 11 shutouts (three in the playoffs), and took home the Vezina Trophy, all while playing for a team that allowed the most goals in the NHL.

Goaltender Mike Richter #35 of the New York Rangers. (Credit: Rick Stewart /Allsport)
Goaltender Mike Richter #35 of the New York Rangers. (Credit: Rick Stewart /Allsport) /

The Greatest Ranger?

Whenever conversation turns to the greatest player in team history, there’s a handful of candidates. Two are goalies, but only one of them has a Cup.

Taken with the 28th overall pick in the 1985 draft, Mike Richter spent his entire career with the New York Rangers, making his pro debut during the 1989 playoffs. He was 12-5 in his rookie season, backing up starter John Vanbiesbrouck. For the next three seasons, Richter split starts with the veteran.

After the Beezer was traded away, Richter had a monstrous 1993-94 season, winning 42 games with a 2.57 GAA, as the Rangers won the President’s Cup. He was also MVP of the All-Star Game, which was held at Madison Square Garden.

But it was in the playoffs that he became a legend. He posted four shoutouts as the Rangers reached the Stanley Cup Finals, going up against the Vancouver Canucks. Game 4 had this heart stopping moment, a penalty shot awarded to the Russian Rocket, Pavel Bure:

The Rangers defeated the Canucks in seven games to win their first Stanley Cup since 1940.

You might have heard something about that.

Richter was still considered a top goalie, even as knee injuries and concussions chipped away at his playing time. A skull fracture (and another concussion) led to the end of his career after the 2002-03 season. He retired with 301 victories, a team record at the time.

Richter’s #35 jersey was the third retired by New York and he was named to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2008, entering alongside teammate Brian Leetch.

Next: A bright future in goal

That wraps up our look at Ranger goalies of the past, covering the Cup winners, the finalists, and the near misses.  Tomorrow, we look at the next decade in net for the Blueshirts.

Related Story. Goalies revisited: So near yet so far. light

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