On February 12 in NYR history: 5 assists for Tkaczuk

What happened on February 12 in the history of the New York Rangers

On this date in 1972, Walt Tkaczuk had five assists in one game to set a franchise record.  Since Tkaczuk set the record, Rangers have reached it six times, but never had more. It wasn’t an NHL record, it was two behind the league record of seven set by the Red Wings Billy Taylor in 1947.

When Tkaczuk did it he was one of 23 NHL players to reach the five assist mark. The NHL record is still seven, reached three times by Wayne Gretzky with the Oilers.

As for the Rangers, Tkaczuk has been joined in the franchise record book by Rod Gilbert (three times), Brian Leetch, Don Maloney and Gretzky.   The last time as many as four assists was registered in a game was on December 29, 2018 when Mika Zibanejad did it.

A shorthanded NHL record

On this date in 1935, Cecil Dillon became the first NHL player to score two shorthanded goals in one game.  He did it on the road  in a 5-1 win over the St. Louis Eagles, netting a hat trick as well.  No only did Dillon set an individual record, but when Murray Murdoch scored a shorthanded goal in the third period, the Rangers became the first team in league history to register three in one game.

The Rangers team record stood for 60 years until 1995 when the Winnipeg Jets scored shorthanded four times.  As for Dillon’s record,  it was matched within three years and it was broken by Theo Fleury of Calgary who scored three shorthanded in a game in 1991.

Two shorthanded goals in a game has been achieved 142 times since Cecil Dillon did it the first time including eight times by other New York Rangers. Don Maloney had two shorties in a game three times.

A road hat trick first

In 1972 on this date, Brad Park scored the first road hat trick by a New York Rangers defenseman in an 8-3 win in Pittsburgh.  Earlier in the season, Park had become the first Ranger defenseman to score three goals in a game.

Park had one more road hat trick in his Rangers career and he was joined by Ron Greschner in 1978 as the only blueliners to do it on the road.

Hello Columbus

On this date in 2001, the Rangers played for the first time in Columbus, Ohio as they took on the expansion Blue Jackets, winning 4-3.  The Rangers were not strangers to the state of Ohio as they had played in Cleveland when the Barons were in the NHL, but they had last played in Cleveland in December 1977.

The Rangers have played 22 games at Nationwide Arena with a 12-10 record.

Today’s birthdays

28 NHL players have been born on February 12 including three former Blueshirts.

The numbers

The Blueshirts have played 38 games on February 12 with a .579 points percentage, mostly because of their 4-1 record in games that have been decided in overtime.

Games: 38
Regulation wins: 16
Regulation losses: 14
Ties: 3
Overtime wins: 3
Overtime losses: 1
Shootout wins: 1
Points percentage: .579

Last year

The Rangers were off a year ago, preparing for a game in Minnesota while riding a two game winning streak.   Personnel decisions were looming with only six games left before the trade deadline.