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New York Rangers (NHL, 1965-66)

 

1965-66 Regular Season
Rangers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
     The New York Rangers had some pretty lean seasons in the early to mid 1960s. From 1959 to 1966, the Rangers would make the playoffs just once. They would typically finish in fifth place, just ahead of the Boston Bruins, in the six-team NHL. New York was generally viewed as a smaller team that didn't have the depth that the top four teams did.

     Emile Francis was in his second season as General Manager of the Rangers, while ex-Black Hawk forward Red Sullivan was back for his second season as Rangers head coach. The team played its home games at the third version of Madison Square Garden, which sat 15,925. 

     New York wound up in the basement in 1965-66, finishing with a 18-41-11 record. Their 47 points were one point behind fifth-place Boston and 43 behind league-best Montreal. After a 5-10-5 start, Francis replaced Sullivan behind the bench. Average attendance at MSG was 12,247 per game, fifth in the league. 

     Bob Nevin, acquired in 1964 from Toronto in the Andy Bathgate deal, led the Rangers in scoring with 29 goals and 62 points in 69 games. Donnie Marshall, who won five consecutive Stanley Cups with Montreal, was second in scoring with 28 goals and 54 points in 69 games. Jean Ratelle and Earl Ingarfield were the other Rangers players with at least 20 goals. As a team, New York scored 195 goals, fifth in the league.

     New York struggled on defense, allowing 261 goals, second-most in the league. Emile Francis used three different goaltenders this season. The main goaltender that season was Eddie Giacomin. Francis had purchased Giacomin's contract from the AHL's Providence Reds. Giacomin struggled in his first season behind a weak team, having an 8-19-7 record and a 3.66 GAA in 36 games. Cesare Maniago, who had briefly played for Toronto in Montreal, had a 9-16-3, 3.50 GAA and 2 shutouts in 28 games. Veteran netminder Don Simmons, picked up from Toronto in the 1964 Interleague Draft, was 1-6-1 with a 4.52 GAA in 11 games. Veteran defenseman Harry Howell was the highest-scoring defenseman this season, with 4 goals and 33 points in 70 games.

     New York missed the playoffs for the fourth straight season. The Montreal Canadiens would win their second straight Stanley Cup, defeating the Detroit Red Wings in six games.

     This program is 40 pages long, all in black and white and loaded with ads and articles. Pages 4-5 were dedicated to the new Madison Square Garden, which would open in 1967. A season preview for the NHL is found on pages 6-7, and Emile Francis' work as Rangers GM is highlighted on page 9. Stan Fischler wrote an article about Vic Hadfield on page 15, and Rangers captain Bob Nevin is profiled on page 31.

    This program is from the November 28, 1965 game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Rangers
lost, 4-2 in front of 14,128, to drop to 5-8-4 on the season. Looking at the Rangers roster, some of the key pieces of the team's revival in the late 1960s are starting to arrive in Manhattan. Players such as Jean Ratelle, Rod Gilbert, Ed Giacomin, Rod Seiling and Vic Hadfield will play an important role in turning the long-struggling Rangers into a Stanley Cup contender in the late 1960s-mid 1970s. Five Rangers players on this roster, including GM Emile Francis, were later inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame: Jean Ratelle, Harry Howell, Rod Gilbert, Ed Giacomin and Jean Ratelle.

     Toronto, on the other hand, is icing a veteran squad. The Leafs had won three straight Stanley Cups from 1962-64, and had seven players over the age of 30. Leaf goaltenders Johnny Bower and Terry Sawchuk won the 1964-65 Vezina Trophy. 10 players on this Maple Leaf roster, as well as Head Coach/GM Punch Imlach, would reach the Hockey Hall of Fame: George Armstrong, Johnny Bower, Tim Horton, Red Kelly, Dave Keon, Frank Mahovlich, Marcel Pronovost, Bob Pulford, Terry Sawchuk and Allan Stanley.

     Local advertisements include Riverdale Ice Skating Rink, HyGrade's All-Beef Franks, Tam O'Shanter Country Club, Brew Coat & Apron Supply Co, Inc., and Loew's Midtown Motor Inn.


PS: Check out George Grimm's book We Did Everything But Win: Former New York Rangers Remember the Emile Francis Era (1964-76). This is an excellent book that goes into detail about one of the most successful periods in New York Rangers history. I'm not a Rangers fan, but I really enjoyed this book. Highly recommended!



Aftermath: The New York Rangers would make the postseason in 1966-67, starting a streak of nine consecutive playoff appearances. While the Rangers would be a Stanley Cup contender during this time period, they would play in just one Stanley Cup Final, losing to the Boston Bruins in six games in 1972.



Reference:

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

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