On June 3 in NYR history: Getting ready for the Final

What happened on June 3 in the history of the New York Rangers

June 3 is a very quiet day in the history of the New York Rangers.  They didn’t play a playoff game, announce a coaching change or win any awards.  In 1994, the team was en route to Vancouver for Game Three of the Stanley Cup Finals with the teams tied 1-1.

In 2014, the Rangers were preparing for the first game of the Final in Los Angeles.  They practiced at the Staples Center and then it was media day as the team was barraged with questions from reporters.

The Rangers were the underdogs in the series as the Kings had won three straight seven game series, coming back from 0-3 deficit to beat the Sharks in the first round.

Alain Vigneault told reporters “Even though a lot of people aren’t going to give us a chance, I like our chances.  I like our group. I like our focus. I like the way we compete.”

Much of the focus was on Martin St. Louis who had been an inspiration to the team, spurring their comeback from a 1-3 deficit to Pittsburgh.   It was a dream match up for the NHL and all was good with the Rangers on the brink of their attempt to win their second Cup in 73 years.

Today’s birthdays

Barry Beck was born on this date in 1957 in Vancouver, British Columbia.  Beck was on of the most imposing physical defensemen in the NHL at 6’3″, 216 pounds.  He was the second overall pick in the 1977 NHL Amateur Draft but the Colorado Rockies.  He didn’t disappoint, setting a goal scoring record for a rookie defenseman in 1977-78,  with 22 goals, breaking Denis Potvin’s previous record by five goals. The Rangers, fresh from their loss to the Canadiens in the 1979 Final, sent a boatload of talent to Colorado for Beck.  Gone in the trade were three key members of that team, Pat Hickey, Mike McEwen and Lucien DeBlois. Beck spent seven years in New York, never able to bring that championships to the the City.  He was hampered by several shoulder injuries that resulted in him missing numerous games each year.  Ranger fans will remember announcer Bill Chadwick’s exhortation for Beck to take more shots, exclaiming “Shoot the puck, Barry.”