The New York Rangers entered the National Hockey in time for the 1926-27 season, and in the following year were crowned Stanley Cup champions when they defeated the Montreal Maroons 2-1 on April 14, 1928.
In all their year's competing for Lord Stanley's Cup, it is an interesting fact they never swept a playoff series until the spring of 1972.
On April 16, 1972, the Rangers opened their semi-final series against the Black Hawks at Chicago Stadium. The format was a best-of-seven showdown.
New York got off to a great start by taking both games on the road. Game one was close, with the Rangers squeaking out a 3-2 victory. The Rangers weren't content with only one win as they downed Chicago 5-3 in game two.
The series shifted east for two contests at New York's Madison Square Garden on April 20 and 23.
When the Rangers defeated Chicago by a score of 3-2 in game three, the stage was set for the brooms to come out at the Garden. The Black Hawks were on the ropes as they faced elimination if they failed to win game four and secure a ticket to return home for the fifth game.
Pressure clearly was on the Hawks to find a way to earn a win and take a step towards getting back into the series. But the Rangers knew they had Chicago down for the count and had no intention of letting them get back up.
Chicago opened the scoring when Bobby Hull beat Gilles Villemure in the Rangers' net at 5:37. New York responded shortly after, at 5:49, when Phil Goyette tied the game. The exchanging of goals became a pattern as the game progressed.
"We would get a lead and then the next line would go out there and bingo the Rangers would score," said Hull of his team's inability to build a lead. "This takes the heart out of you. Working like hell and then going to the bench and watching while you're tied up or behind."
The point-getters for New York in this contest were Rod Gilbert (pictured above) and Bobby Rousseau.
Gilbert notched the game-winning goal in New York's 6-2 victory, when he beat Tony Esposito at the 4:37 mark of period two. He finished the night with a goal and three helpers. Rousseau, who won four Cups with the Montreal Canadiens, contributed two goals and two assists.
Ranger center, Pete Stemkowski, provided analysis on why his team was able to oust the Black Hawks in four straight.
"We didn't change our game-plan in any one of the four wins," said Stemkowski, a Stanley Cup champion with the 1967 Toronto Maple Leafs. "Our center's forechecked deep and tough, taking the first puck carrier. This prevented them from turning those wings loose with long, well-aimed passes which was their trademark all season."
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