On May 5 in NYR history: The most famous slash in Rangers history

What happened on May 5 in the history of the New York Rangers

Adam Graves is one of the most beloved New York Rangers in franchise history.  He’s best known for his charitable work, a winner of the King Clancy Award and honored numerous times with the Steven McDonald Award and he won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in 2001 given to the NHL player who who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey.

It’s hard to believe that on this date in 1992, Graves did something that made him the “Most Wanted” man in the NHL and for which he was vilified throughout the hockey world.   It was the Game Two of the Patrick Division Finals between the Rangers and the Penguins.

Five minutes into the first period with the Penguins ahead 1-0, Graves slashed Mario Lemieux on the wrist, the leading scorer in the NHL that season.  Lemieux fell to the ice in pain  while the Garden crowd hooted in derision.  It turned out that Lemieux had a fractured wrist.

The uproar throughout the league was uniform, with calls for Graves to be banned from the NHL or at the very least, to be suspended.  Graves had only received a two minute slashing penalty, but the NHL reviewed the play and suspended him for four games.

The Rangers went on to win the game 4-2 and also the next game, but the Penguins went on to win three games in a row and take the series in seven games, an upset of the Presidents’ Trophy winning Rangers.

A beating in a beating

On this date in1974 the Rangers lost Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Semi-Finals to the Philadelphia Flyers, dropping a 4-3 decision.  The Broad Street Bullies went on to win the Stanley Cup, but it is what happened in that game that will do down in Rangers’ lore.

In the first period, Schultz, the toughest player in the NHL, picked a fight with Rolfe, Brad Park’s defense partner.  As Schultz later told it, it was on the orders of the Flyers’ coaching staff who wanted to take Rolfe off his game.

There was a scrum near the Rangers’ net and Rolfe took to quick punches at Schultz who then hit Rolfe 18 times in rapid succession.  Then Schultz grabbed the dazed Rolfe by the hair and head-butted him.

No Ranger stepped in to stop the beating and the referees let it go on.  Brad Park later explained that Rolfe told them to stay out of it as the Rangers on the ice were Park, Jean Ratelle, Vic Hadfield and Rod Gilbert and if any of them had interceded they would have been tossed from the game because of the new third man in rule.

Both Rolfe and Schultz got five minute fighting majors. The Rangers fell behind 3-1, but clawed back to a 4-3 deficit, but lost the game when they were called for a too many men on the ice penalty with a minute left.

A Lady Byng Trophy for Ratelle

On this date in 1972, Jean Ratelle received the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, an award given to the “player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.”

It was the 13th time that a Ranger had won that award though Frank Boucher won the award seven straight years from 1928 to 1935.  It was Ratelle’s first time to win the award and he was the first Rangers since Camille Henry to win the award since 1958.

A coach walks away

On this date in 1950, coach Lynn Patrick unexpectedly quit as coach of the Rangers to run the Victoria Cougars.   The new job was very short lived as he surfaced the next season as coach of the Boston Bruins.

He had coached the Rangers to the Stanley Cup FInal in 1950, losing in seven games to the Detroit Red Wings despite not playing a single game in New York due to the circus.  He resigned ostensibly to run the Victoria team in the Pacific Coast Hockey League, a newly created team that was partially owned by the Patrick family.

He was then offered a big contract by the Boston Bruins and he decided to take it and he coached to the playoffs the next four years.

Lynn Patrick was the son of Rangers legend Lester Patrick and a member of the 1940 Stanley Cup championship team.  He was also the father of Craig Patrick who served as coach and GM of the Rangers.  His brother, Muzz Patrick, was also a player and coach for the Blueshirts.

Today’s birthdays

29 players were born on May 5 with only one a former New York Ranger.

Jim Conacher was born on this date in 1921 in Motherwell, United Kingdom.   Born in England and raised in Canadia, Conacher played eight years in the NHL including two seasons and 33 games with the Rangers.  He was  center who spent most of his carer with the Chicago Black Hawks and Detroit Red Wings.  He was not related to any of the other Conachers who have played in the NHL.

The numbers

Playoffs games: 9
Wins: 4
Losses: 4
Overtime losses: 1
Winning percentage: 44%