On December 28 in NYR history: A first in international hockey

What happened on December 28th in the history of the New York Rangers

On this date in 1975,  the New York Rangers became the first NHL team to play a team from the Soviet Union.  They played the Moscow Red Army team and became the first NHL squad to take on a team from the Russian league.  It didn’t end well as the Rangers lost 7-3. The game was played in front of a capacity crowd of 17, 500 at Madison Square Garden and there was an awful lot of excitement when Steve Vickers scored just 21 seconds into the game.

The Soviets then scored seven straight goals before Rod Gilbert and Phil Esposito scored to make the score somewhat respectable.   It was an embarrassing loss and was reminiscent of the first games of the Summit Series played in 1972 when the Soviets made quick work of an NHL all-star team in the first few games in Canada.   Canada came back to win that series, but the hockey world learned that the Russians could play hockey.

Team captain Phil Esposito was full of excuses talking to the New York Times after the game, blaming a lack of preparedness.  He also said that they didn’t play smart hockey. “We were running around like stupid idiots instead of each man taking one of their men. I was yelling my brains out.”

23-year-old Vladislav Tretiak was in goal for the Red Army while John Davidson was in net for the Rangers.  Even though the Blueshirts outshot Red Army 41-29, the Soviets controlled the game. Reports about the game highlighted the Red Army’s use of the drop pass as something that confused the Rangers defense.  Davidson had to face numerous three-on-one and even four-one-one rushes.  Even Davidson downplayed the loss. “I’d like to play them again,” Davidson said. “I don’t think we knew what to expect. The score is not truly indicative. That was only one game. It doesn’t prove anything.”

The Red Army played three more games, finishing with a 2-1-1 record with wins over the Rangers and Boston, a tie with Montreal and a loss to Philadelphia.  The Soviet Wings were a second team that played in this series and they finished with a 3-1 record with wins over  Pittsburgh, Chicago and the Islanders with a sole loss to Buffalo.

A new coach

On this date in 1962 Red Sullivan was named head coach of the Rangers.  Sullivan had been a Ranger center for five years and was laboring for the Baltimore Clippers of the AHL when the Rangers got off to a bad start and the heat was on coach Muzz Patrick.   Since Patrick was also the general manager, it was easy for him to call Sullivan and tap him as the new coach.

Unfortunately, Sullivan didn’t have a lot of success and in his fourth year as coach, he was replaced by Emile Francis who had taken over as GM from Muzz Patrick in 1964.

A Garden State first

In 1929, a professional hockey game was played for the first time in the state of New Jersey.  The Rangers beat the Ottawa Senators in a game played at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.  It was a 3-1 win for the Blueshirts.  The Senators played two home games in Atlantic City that season along with games in Detroit and Boston due to poor attendance for home games against U.S. based teams.

A first for the first version

On this date in 1926, the brand new New York Rangers hosted the Ottawa Senators for the first time at Madison Square Garden, losing in overtime, 3-2.   The original Senators were one of the oldest hockey teams in existence, founded in 1883.  They joined the fledgling NHL in 1917 and remained in the league until the 1933-34 season. The relocated to St. Louis and were known as the St. Louis Eagles, but that team lasted only one year before folding.

The current version of the Ottawa Senators joined the NHL in 1992.

Today’s birthdays

21 NHL players have been born on December 28 including two Hall of Famers who played for the Rangers.

Harry Howell was born on this date in 1932 in Hamilton Ontario.  Howell, one of the greatest Blueshirts of all time,  played 17 years for the Rangers and his number three was raised to the rafters of Madison Square Garden in February 2009.   In 1967, Howell became only the second New York Ranger to win the Norris Trophy as best defenseman.  He played 1,160 games for the Blueshirts, a franchise record.   After leaving the Rangers he played in Oakland and Los Angeles before joining the WHA.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979.

Terry Sawchuk was born on this date in 1929 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.  Sawchuk was one of the greatest goalies in NHL history, winner of four Vezina Trophies and a seven-time first or second team all-star.  He ended his career as a New York Ranger, playing eight games in 1969-70.  He died after that season from injuries he sustained in a fight with teammate Ron Stewart.  The housemates had been arguing over expenses after a night of drinking.  Sawchuk himself described the injury as a complete fluke.

Bucky Buchnanan was born on this date in 1922 in Bout-de-L’Isle, Quebec.  He may have only played two games in the NHL both for the Blueshirts, but he had a great name.  He was big scorer in the QSHL (Quebec Senior Hockey League) and was signed by the Blueshirts, but only got into two games in the 1948-49 season.  He played a number of years after that in various pro leagues in Canada, but never made it back to the NHL.

The numbers

The Rangers have played 34 games on December 28 in franchise history, but have not fared well, winning 12 games in regulation.

Games: 34
Regulation wins: 12
Regulation losses: 15
Ties: 6
Overtime wins: 1
Points percentage:  .470