Blue Line Station
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The 1979 New York Rangers: Ooh, la, la — so close!

By Scott Esposito

The New York Rangers celebrate their playoff victory over the New York Islanders on the ice at Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, 1979. Visible players include Steve Vickers (#8, left), John Davidson, Ed Johnstone, and Doug Soetaert (extreme right). (Photo by Melchior DiGiacomo/Getty Images)
The New York Rangers celebrate their playoff victory over the New York Islanders on the ice at Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, 1979. Visible players include Steve Vickers (#8, left), John Davidson, Ed Johnstone, and Doug Soetaert (extreme right). (Photo by Melchior DiGiacomo/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 02: (l-r) Rod Gilbert, Emile Francis, Jean Ratelle, Vic Hadfield and Ed Giacomin attend Hadfield’s jersey retirement by the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on December 02, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 02: (l-r) Rod Gilbert, Emile Francis, Jean Ratelle, Vic Hadfield and Ed Giacomin attend Hadfield’s jersey retirement by the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on December 02, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

A welcomed (and desperately needed) reprieve

The Rangers didn’t win the Stanley Cup in the 1970s, but if nothing else the decade was a nice respite for the team and its fans. By the time 1972 rolled around, the Blueshirts hadn’t appeared in the Finals in 32 years and missed the playoffs 18 times.

The foundation for the Rangers’ turnaround began in the mid-1960s under the direction of general manager and coach Emile “The Cat” Francis. His forward thinking led to a revamped minor league system, dedicated on-ice structure, and opportunities for youngsters Jean Ratelle and Rod Gilbert.

Francis’ work ethic and hockey sense paid off for the Broadway Blues.

The 1971 team earned 109 points, becoming the first in franchise history to post 100 points in a season since the NHL moved to a 70-game format in 1950. They lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in the semifinals in seven games as Bobby Hull potted the winners in Games Five and Seven.

The 1972 team posted 48 wins, 109 points, and advanced to the Finals before losing in six games to Bobby Orr’s Bruins. The following season, the Rangers earned 47 victories and 102 points, giving New York three straight 100-plus point seasons, still a franchise-best.

The Rangers notched a 40-24-14 record for 94 points in 1974, giving the franchise its fourth consecutive season with at least 40 wins.

The only other Rangers teams to duplicate that feat were those of 2006 through 2009, although the Blueshirts squads of 2011 through 2017 likely would’ve established a new franchise benchmark if not a lockout-shortened schedule of 48 games in 2013.

The Rangers had a winning record in 1974-75 but were upset by the upstart Islanders in the preliminary round. Francis stepped down after that series and the Blueshirts fell off, posting three straight losing seasons under as many coaches.

The bad times wouldn’t last long, however.

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