December 8, 2020: This day in New York Rangers history

December 8 is a very quiet day in the history of the New York Rangers

What happened on December 8 in the history of the New York Rangers

In looking back on the history of the New York Rangers, December 8 is one of the quietest days in franchise history.    On this date in 1970, the team played the first game in its history in the province of British Columbia, playing the expansion Vancouver Canucks.

The game was played at the Pacific Coliseum and came two days after the Rangers had won 4-1 at Madison Square Garden in the first game ever between the two teams.  Whether it was jetlag or any other reason, the tables were turned in this game and the Canucks won 4-1.

The teams exchange first period goals,but after that it was all Vancouver as they scored the last three goals.  It was the first win against an “Original Six” team other than the Toronto Maple Leafs.  By this date, the expansion team had  inexplicably already beaten the Leafs three times.

The Rangers would win their next seven games against the Canucks including  their next three in Vancouver.

It is 2,428 miles between Madison Square Garden and the Pacific Coliseum.  That’s the farthest distance between the Rangers’ arena and any Canadian team’s, but not as far as the Los Angeles Kings’ Staples Center, 2,450 miles away.

Today’s birthday

On this date in 1932, Ranger goalie Marcel Paille was born in Shawinigan Falls, Quebec.  Paille played for the Rangers from 1957 to 1965. He played 107 games with a record of 32-52-22.   Paille is tenth all time for the Blueshirts in shots against (3,475),  saves (3,113) and save percentage (.896)

Paille is best known as the first goalie to attempt to wear a mask.  He wore a fiberglass prototype in 1959 in practice with the Rangers, but abandoned it because perspiration fogged the plexiglass eye covering.

The numbers

The Rangers have played 40 times on December 8 in franchise history.  They are over .500 for the date, but what’s notable is that they have been tied after regulation15 times in those 40 games.

Regulation wins:  11
Regulation losses:  14
Ties:  10
Overtime wins: 3
Shootout wins:  1
Shootout losses:  1
Points percentage:   .512

Looking back

On each day, we look back at what the Rangers did one, five and ten years ago. They’ve only played once of those three dates, but it was a memorable one.

Last year – 2019:  Rangers 5, Vegas 0

Alexandar Georgiev notched his second shutout of the season in his hottest stretch in goal for the season.   With this win, he had won three of four starts with a .974 save percentage.   The win came seven days after the Golden Knights had beaten the Rangers 4-1 at Madison Square Garden.  Five different Rangers scored in what was one of their best road wins of the season.  The win improved their record to 15-11-3, virtually the same as Vegas with a 15-12-5 record.

Five years ago – 2015:  No game

Ten years ago – 2010:  No game