Table of Contents
Foreword Emile Francis ix
Introduction xi
Chapter 1 Muzz Must Go! 1
The Cat 3
The Bathgate Trade 12
The Patrick Brothers 14
Chapter 2 1964-65-Reorganizing and Rebuilding 17
The 1964-65 Season 26
Ulf Sterner, the NHL's First European Player 33
John Halligan 35
Marcel Paille 40
Chapter 3 1965-66-The Cornerstone of the Franchise 45
The Old Smoothies 52
Emile Francis and the Goal judge 56
Joe Schaefer-The House Goalie 58
Jacques Plante's Continuing Role in Ranger History 60
Chapter 4 1966-67-The Boomer and the Playoffs 62
The Playoffs 71
Harry Howell Night 75
Johnny Bucyk for Earl Ingarfield? It Almost Happened 76
Gilbert's Impressive Playoff Debut 77
The Metropolitan Hockey League 78
Chapter 5 1967-68-Six New Teams and a New Garden 82
The Playoffs 86
The 1967 Expansion 89
The New Garden 91
A Day-Night Doubleheader at the Garden 97
Camille "The Eel" Henry 98
Big Ned 101
Chapter 6 1968-69-The Year of the Rookies 103
The Playoffs 112
A Snowy Day in February 114
Hail to the Chief! 118
Discipline 120
Gerry Cosby, The Man Behind the Brand 122
Chapter 7 1969-70-A Great Start and a Wild Finish 126
A Season to Remember 130
The Playoffs 140
The Tim Horton Trade 145
Road Woes: Bumped by the Stones, Beaten at the Buzzer, and Grounded by a Strike 146
The Terry Sawchuk Tragedy 153
Remembering the Boomer 158
Playing for a Tie 161
Ned Braden on Broadway? 161
Chapter 8 The Blueshirts on the Air 163
Radio 163
Marv Albert 164
Sal Messina 168
Television 173
Win Elliot 173
Bob Wolff 176
Bill Chadwick and Jim Gordon 180
Chapter 9 1970-71-A Record-Breaking Season 185
The Playoffs 200
Frank Paice Honored by Hockey Writers 208
Tom the Bomb 210
Chapter 10 1971-72-A Trip to the Finals 212
The Playoffs 223
Play the Man 231
Chapter 11 1972-73-The Islanders, the WHA, and the Fat Cats 234
The Birth of a Rivalry 234
The WHA and the Fat Cats 237
The 1972-73 Season 240
The Playoffs 249
Hadfield Bolts Team Canada 255
The 1973 All-Star Game 257
Chapter 12 1973-74-Francis Tries to Take a Step Back 258
The Regular Season 259
The Playoffs 269
New Blood 284
Goodbye, Vic 285
Why Not Shero? 286
Chapter 13 1974-75-The Beginning of the End 288
The Playoffs 303
Giacomin's Gracious Gesture 307
NHLPHA's First Good Guy Award 307
Chapter 14 1975-76-The End of an Era 309
Gone But Never Forgotten 311
Chapter 15 Aftermath and Analysis 334
Analysis 342
Acknowledgments 352
Bibliography 354