On December 20 in NYR history: Gaborik’s 5 goal night (against New York)

What happened on December 20 in the history of the New York Rangers

On this date in 2007, Marian Gaborik put on a show and gave the New York Rangers five reasons to sign him when he became an unrestricted free agent two years later.  The five reasons were the five goals he scored for the Minnesota Wild in a 6-3 win.

Gaborik put together one of the best individual efforts against the Rangers, scoring five goals and adding an assist and chasing Henrik Lundqvist from the game.

All five of his goals were at even strength and he had an assist on a power play goal by Pierre-Marc Bouchard.  Despite  his efforts it wasn’t a one-sided game and the Rangers actually pulled within a goal at the 7:15 mark of the third period on a Nigel Dawes score.  But then Gaborik took over and scored two goals in the next 2:16 to seal the win.

When Gaborik became a free agent after the 2008-09 season, Ranger fans were salivating at the prospect of him joining the Rangers, remembering that December night when he took Lundqvist apart by himself.   Sure enough, they signed him to five year, $37.5 million contract and he didn’t disappoint with two seasons of 40 plus goals.

Ultimately banished to Columbus by John Tortorella, Gaborik was a key reason the Los Angeles Kings won the Stanley Cup in 2014.

A first for the Red Wings

On this date in 1932, the third version of a team from Detroit made their debut at Madison Square Garden.  Preceded by the Detroit Cougars and the Detroit Falcons, it was the Detroit Red Wings who made their first appearance at the old Garden, winning 4-1.

Today’s birthdays

Derek Dorsett was born on this date in 1986 in  Kindersley, Saskatchewan.  The right winger was acquired from Columbus along with Derick Brassard in the trade for Marian Gaborik in 2013.  He played one full season in New York on the fourth line of the team that went to the Stanley Cup Final.

Center Lin Bend was born on this datein 1922  in Poplar Point, Manitoba.   He played eight games for the Rangers in the 1942-43 season, his only NHL games.  He scored three goals and added one assist.  His NHL career was cut short when he had to go into military and he was never able to make it back.  He was a star in junior hockey and the Rangers had an inside track to sign him because he was Bryan Hextall’s cousin.

The numbers

The Rangers have played 40 times on December 20 and are two games over .500 based on their two wins after regulation time, once in OT and once by shootout.

Games: 40
Regulation wins: 15
Regulation losses: 15
Ties: 8
Overtime wins: 1
Shootout wins: 1
Points percentage: .525