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New York Rangers (NHL, 1965-66)

1965-66 Regular Season
Rangers vs. Boston Bruins
     Since winning the Stanley Cup in 1940 and finishing first overall in 1942, the Rangers went through a long stretch of mediocrity. World War 2 and Lester Patrick's ill-fated decision to sell off the team's farm club completely derailed the Rangers franchise, which limped through numerous years of frustration. By 1965-66, the Rangers had missed the postseason 18 times since 1942, reaching the Finals just one time in that span (1950).

     1965-66 was more of the same, as the Rangers finished last with a 18-41-11 record. Their measly 47 points were just one point behind fifth place Boston, but 27 behind fourth-place Detroit. New York averaged 12,247 per game to the 15,925-seat Madison Square Garden. Head Coach Red Sullivan was fired after a 5-10-5 start, replaced by General Manager Emile Francis.

     New York had the second-worst offense in the NHL that season, scoring 195 goals. Former Leaf Bob Nevin, acquired in 1964 in the Andy Bathgate trade, led the team in scoring with 29 goals and 62 points in 69 games. Former Canadien Don Marshall (a member of the five-straight Stanley Cup dynasty of the 1950s), was next with 26 goals and 54 points in 69 games. Center Jean Ratelle had his best season (to date), scoring 21 goals and 51 points in 67 games. Earl Ingarfield was the only other Ranger with at least 20 goals, scoring an even 20 to go with 36 points. Dependable veteran defenseman Harry Howell was the top scorer on the blueline, with 4 goals and 33 points in 70 games.

     The Rangers were also the second worst team on defense, surrendering 261 goals. The team used three goaltenders that season. Eddie Giacomin and Cesare Maniago were the main two netminders in 1966. Giacomin, a future fan favorite, was 8-19-7 in 36 games with a 3.66 GAA, while Maniago was 9-16-3 with a 3.50 GAA and 2 shutouts. Veteran Don Simmons, picked up from Toronto in the 1964 intraleague draft, was 1-6-1 with a 4.52 GAA in 11 games. 

     For the fourth straight year, and seventh time in eight seasons, the Rangers missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Montreal would win it's second consecutive Cup, downing Detroit in six games. Despite the ugly streak, the Rangers were beginning to see the fruits of their rebuilding program. Emile Francis' decision to invest in the farm system and go with youth began to pay off, as future stars like Giacomin, Ratelle, Vic Hadfield and Rod Gilbert were making their way up to the NHL. The franchise was on the upswing.

     This program is from the November 24, 1965 game between the Rangers and Boston Bruins. Boston and New York were the perennial punching bags of the NHL in the last several years of the Original Six era, and would battle each other for fifth place, rarely getting into the postseason. On that night, the Rangers defeated the Bruins, 4-1, in front of 15,222 at Madison Square Garden, to improve to 5-5-4 on the season. Unfortunately, that would be the closest the Rangers would come to a winning record that season.

     This is a 40-page program, with some great in-game pictures and plenty of advertisements. The new Madison Square Garden (the current version of the building) was being constructed and was expected to be open in 1967, until delays pushed it back a year. On pages 4-5, the new Garden is profiled, with a cross-section of the building and the different levels, including the Forum and Cinema, as well as a bowling center. Capacity for the new building was 20,234. Pages 6-7 is a preview for the 1965-66 season, asking the question "The Year of the ?", meaning the season and Stanley Cup was up for grabs. Francis' rebuild of the Rangers organization is written about on page 9, while Rod Gilbert and Jean Ratelle are featured on pages 11 and 39. Pictures from the Rangers hockey school are on page 29. "Meet Bob Nevin, the New Captain" is the article on page 31. Nevin was one of five players acquired by the Rangers, along with Dick Duff, Bill Collins, Arnie Brown and Rod Seiling, for star forward Andy Bathgate and Don McKenney. Brown, Seiling and Nevin would help lead the Rangers revival in the late 1960s, while Duff would go on to win three Stanley Cups with Montreal.

     Local advertisements include Chevron Oil Company, Hygrade's All-Beef Franks, Gold Seal Ice Cream Corporation, Midtown Motor Inn, and Brew Coat & Apron Supply Company, Inc.

Aftermath: The Rangers would finally qualify for the playoffs in 1966-67, and for the next 20 seasons just miss the playoffs just three times. The team would move into the new (current) Madison Square Garden in 1968.


References:
National Hockey League Statistics: 1965-66, from hockeydb.com
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