New York Rangers Flashback: Playoff preview in New Jersey
As we continue our return to the New York Rangers 1993-1994 Stanley Cup winning season, we look back to a victory over the Devils on this date in 1994.
We have been looking back at the 1993-1994 season for the New York Rangers. Gee, I wonder why? I think that whole Stanley Cup winning, curse ending, championship winning season had something to do with it.
What a year that was. Sam Rosen was right. That one has lasted a lifetime.
Tonight we go back to 25 years ago yesterday. It was February 24, 1994, and the Rangers headed to New Jersey to face the team that would be the final step between them and the finals, the Devils.
But that was coming in a few months.
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On this night it was a regular season matchup in the Hudson River rivalry. Rangers vs. Devils.
Mike Richter vs. Martin Brodeur. Who’s going to win? Let’s get to the action.
The Rangers got an early break when Devils defenseman Scott Stevens was penalized for cross-checking at the 0:45 second mark of the first period.
Sergei Zubov capitalized 12 seconds later from Mark Messier and Brian Leetch putting the Rangers up 1-0.
John MacLean put home the equalizer with just 46 seconds remaining in the period, and that’s how the period ended. The Rangers and Devils were tied 1-1.
That was the last time the Devils lit the lamp that night. In fact, Brodeur left the game in the middle of the third period in favor of backup Chris Terreri.
When did THAT ever happen? It was a rare occurrence.
At the 6:41 mark of the second period, the great Adam Graves put the Rangers ahead to stay. He put his 43rd of the season in the back of the net from Messier and Zubov to give his team a 2-1 lead on the only goal in the period.
The insurance came in the final period. Again on the power play, Greg Gilbert scored his second, assisted by Kevin Lowe and Zubov, making it a three point night for Zubov. That back-breaker occurred at the 15:51 mark of the third and that did the Devils in.
dark. Next. Long live the King
On the night, the Rangers went 2-6 on the power play which ended up being the difference in the game. They won the special teams battle as the Devils went 0-5 on the power play. Winning with the man advantage will win you a game almost every night.
The other story of the game was Mike Richter, who made 35 saves on the night. Richter was never a guy that had superstar written all over him, but he got the job done every night for a long time.
He was superb on this night, just another one on the way to a long-awaited championship.