Hy Buller D (1951-1954)
Today in NYR History March 15:
1942: Lynn Patrick scores twice and the New York Rangers clinch their first regular-season championship by defeating the Blackhawks 5-1 at Chicago Stadium. They end the season at 29-17-2 and 60 points, three more than the second-place Toronto Maple Leafs. The Rangers don't finish first in the regular season again until 1991-92.
1979: Phil Esposito scores four goals in Rangers 7-4 victory against the Bruins at Boston Garden. It's the 31st hat trick of Esposito's NHL career.
1989: One of hockey's great goaltenders during his illustrious 13-year career, Eddie Giacomin became the second player to have his number retired by the Rangers on March 15, 1989.
Always a fan favorite in New York, Giacomin spent over 10 seasons with the Rangers, appearing in 539 matches and posting a 267-174-89 mark, along with a 2.73 goals against average and 49 shutouts.
On the Rangers all-time goaltending list, he ranked first overall in career wins (267) and shutouts (49), and second in appearances (539) at the time of his departure in 1975. The legendary goalie also ranked at or near the top of several single season Ranger records, ranking first in wins for a season (37, 1968-69), tied for first in appearances for a season (70, 1968-69 and 1969-70) and tied for fourth in shutouts for a season (9, 1966-67) at the time. Additionally, he is one of only two Ranger goalies in franchise history to reach the 30-win benchmark five times (1966-67, 1967-68, 1968-69, 1969-70, 1973-74).
Giacomin played in six NHL All-Star Games (1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973), including five straight appearances from 1967 to 1971. The netminder was selected as a First Team All-Star two times (1967, 1971), and was honored as a Second Team All-Star three times (1968, 1969, 1970). In 1971, he was awarded the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender, sharing the honor with Gilles Villemure.
In addition to his puckstopping ability, Giacomin made Rangers history on March 19, 1972 when he became the first Blueshirt goalie to register a multiple-point game with two assists vs. Toronto at Madison Square Garden. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1987.
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