As New York Rangers fans get ready to celebrate the twenty-sixth anniversary of that glorious Stanley Cup victory, led by Mike Keenan, let’s take a deeper look at what that triumph might have cost.
We are little over a month away from an important New York Rangers anniversary, twenty-six years since the Curse was broken, the Cup lifted by the Messiah.
Talk will once again turn to that remarkable time, reminiscing about sweeping the Islanders out of the postseason, finally getting past Washington, Captain Courageous’ guarantee (and hat trick) against the Devils , that last 1.6 seconds in Game 7 of the Finals, the SURETY that the season could still somehow fall apart, picturing Vancouver scoring the tying goal and then the OT winner that would destroy us, mock us for daring to dream.
And some might reflect on how it’s been a quarter of a century since Mike Keenan came, took us to the Promised Land, then abruptly left, tearing a hole in the team that took over a decade to heal.
For Gen Z, 1994 is a history lesson, grainy black and white film footage like the Zapruder Film. And the Greatest Generation either can’t remember 1994 or would tell you Igor Shesterkin is no Dave Kerr and how Shelly Winters was hotter than Marilyn Monroe back before Germany invaded Poland.
But for Baby Boomers, Gen X’ers, and a sprinkling of Millennials, there are certain names sure to bring a smile to their lips. Not just Mark Messier, Mike Richter, and Brian Leetch, but also the other players, the ones we don’t think of as often. Sergei Zubov, Alexei Kovalev, Jeff Beukeboom, even Esa Tikkanen, and of course, Stephane Matteau! Matteau! Matteau!
The 1993-94 Rangers weren’t exactly a fluke, lightning in a bottle. New York was a talented team in the early 90’s.