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1993–94 New York Rangers season

The 1993–94 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 68th season. The highlight of the season was winning the Stanley Cup and hosting the NHL All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers clinched their second Presidents' Trophy and sixth division title by finishing with the best record in the NHL at 52–24–8, setting a then-franchise record with 112 points.

This marked the last season in which the Rangers were under the control of Paramount Communications. Toward the end of the season, Paramount was taken over by Viacom. Shortly thereafter, Viacom divested itself of all of Paramount's interests in Madison Square Garden, including the Rangers, and sold them to ITT Corporation and Cablevision. A couple of years later, ITT would sell their share to Cablevision, who owned the Rangers until 2010, when the MSG properties became their own company. As of 2025, this remains the most recent season the Rangers won the Stanley Cup.

Offseason

On April 17, 1993, the New York Rangers named Mike Keenan as their head coach. Keenan was hired to replace Ron Smith, who the team decided not to retain after he coached the second half of the season in place of the fired Roger Neilson. Keenan had taken the 1992–93 season off after spending four years as the head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks, where he led the team to the Stanley Cup Finals in his last year.

Pre-season

During the 1993 pre-season, the Rangers had a record of 7–2–0.

Regular season

The 1993–94 season was a magical one for Rangers fans, as head coach Mike Keenan led the Rangers to their first Stanley Cup championship in 54 years. Two years prior, they acquired center Mark Messier, who was an integral part of the Edmonton Oilers' Cup-winning teams. Adam Graves, who also defected from the Oilers, joined the Rangers as well. Other ex-Oilers on the Blueshirts included trade deadline acquisitions Craig MacTavish and Glenn Anderson. Brian Leetch and Sergei Zubov were a solid "1–2 punch" on defense. In fact, Zubov led the team in scoring that season with 89 points, and continued to be an All-Star defenseman throughout his career. Graves would set a team record with 52 goals, breaking the old record of 50 held by Vic Hadfield. This record would later be broken by Jaromir Jagr on April 8, 2006, against the Boston Bruins. New York was not shut-out in any of their 84 regular-season games. The Rangers led the NHL in wins (52), points (112) and power-play goals (96, tied with the Buffalo Sabres) and power play percentage (23.02%). They also allowed the fewest shorthanded goals (5) of all 26 teams.

On February 21, 1994, Tony Amonte scored just eight seconds into the overtime period to win the game to give the Rangers a 4–3 home win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. It would prove to be the fastest overtime goal scored during the 1993–94 regular season.

All-Star Game

The 1994 National Hockey League All-Star Game took place on January 22, 1994, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The final score was East 9, West 8.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Playoffs

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals

In the opening round, the Rangers faced their crosstown rivals the New York Islanders, this series would turn out to be an extremely one sided affair as the Rangers outscored their rivals 22–3 in a four-game sweep.

Eastern Conference Semifinals

Next, the Rangers faced the Washington Capitals who were coming off a shocking six game win over the second seeded Pittsburgh Penguins. The Rangers appeared to have the series in hand after they won the first three games, although the Capitals avoided the sweep with a Game 4 win, the Rangers got back in control and won the series in five games.

Eastern Conference Finals

After going down in the Eastern Conference Finals 3–2 to the New Jersey Devils, Rangers' captain Mark Messier made one of the most famous guarantees in sports history, saying the Rangers would win Game 6 in New Jersey to tie the series 3–3. Not only did the Rangers back up Messier's guarantee, Messier scored a hat-trick in the Rangers' 4–2 win, sending the game back to New York for Game 7. In Game 7, the Rangers held a 1–0 lead after a second period goal by Brian Leetch. The lead would hold up until 7.7 seconds remaining, when Valeri Zelepukin was able to beat Mike Richter to send the game to overtime. In double overtime, Stephane Matteau scored his second overtime goal of the series to send the Rangers to the Finals. The series-winning goal prompted the famous call of "Matteau, Matteau, Matteau!" by Rangers radio announcer Howie Rose.

Stanley Cup Finals

The Rangers won their first Stanley Cup in 54 years, dating back to , beating the Vancouver Canucks in seven games.

The Rangers winning this Stanley Cup drew 4.957 million viewers to Hockey Night in Canada, making it the highest-rated single CBC Sports program in history until the 10.6 million viewers for the men's ice hockey gold medal game between Canada and the United States at the 2002 Winter Olympics, when Canada won its first Olympic ice hockey gold medal since the 1952 Winter Olympics. CBC commentator Bob Cole, who called both games, said Game 7 was one of his most memorable TV games.

MSG Network broadcaster Al Trautwig said that this Stanley Cup win by the Rangers was seen as the coming of age of the NHL's influence in Europe. It marked the first time that the Russians got their names on the Stanley Cup and there were four who got that honor – Alexander Karpovtsev, Alexei Kovalev, Sergei Nemchinov and Sergei Zubov—giving a huge European television audience, including those watching on the brand-new television screens across the former Soviet Union, a Stanley Cup story to remember.

Schedule and results

Preseason

|- | 1 || September 11 || Toronto || 5–3 || 1–0–0 || 2 || Wembley Arena || W |- | 2 || September 12 || @ Toronto || 3–1 || 2–0–0 || 4 || Wembley Arena || W |- | 3 || September 22 || @ Pittsburgh || 4–6 || 2–1–0 || 4 || Civic Arena || L |- | 4 || September 23 || @ N.Y. Islanders || 2–4 || 2–2–0 || 4 || Nassau Coliseum || L |- | 5 || September 25 || @ Hartford || 5–3 || 3–2–0 || 6 || Hartford Civic Center || W |- | 6 || September 27 || N.Y. Islanders || 6–3 || 4–2–0 || 8 || Madison Square Garden || W |- | 7 || September 29 || Pittsburgh || 5–4 || 5–2–0 || 10 || Madison Square Garden || W |- | 8 || September 30 || @ New Jersey || 3–2 || 6–2–0 || 12 || Brendan Byrne Arena || W |- | 9 || October 1 || New Jersey || 4–1 || 7–2–0 || 14 || Madison Square Garden || W |-

|- | Legend:

Regular season

|- | 1 || October 5 || Boston || 3–4 || || Richter || 0–1–0 || 0 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |- | 2 || October 7 || Tampa Bay || 5–4 || || Healy || 1–1–0 || 2 || Madison Square Garden || 16,596 || |- | 3 || October 9 || @ Pittsburgh || 2–3 || || Richter || 1–2–0 || 2 || Civic Arena || 16,994 || |- | 4 || October 11 || Washington || 5–2 || || Healy || 2–2–0 || 4 || Madison Square Garden || 16,834 || |- | 5 || October 13 || Quebec || 6–4 || || Healy || 3–2–0 || 6 || Madison Square Garden || 16,451 || |- | 6 || October 15 || @ Buffalo || 5–2 || || Healy || 4–2–0 || 8 || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium || 15,200 || |- | 7 || October 16 || @ Philadelphia || 3–4 || || Healy || 4–3–0 || 8 || The Spectrum || 17,308 || |- | 8 || October 19 || Anaheim || 2–4 || || Richter || 4–4–0 || 8 || Madison Square Garden || 17,643 || |- | 9 || October 22 || @ Tampa Bay || 1–4 || || Richter || 4–5–0 || 8 || Thunderdome || 18,667 || |- | 10 || October 24 || Los Angeles || 3–2 || || Richter || 5–5–0 || 10 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |- | 11 || October 28 || Montreal || 3–3 || OT || Richter || 5–5–1 || 11 || Madison Square Garden || 17,811 || |- | 12 || October 30 || @ Hartford || 4–1 || || Richter || 6–5–1 || 13 || Hartford Civic Center || 13,183 || |- | 13 || October 31 || New Jersey || 4–1 || || Richter || 7–5–1 || 15 || Halifax Metro Centre || 8,200 || |-

|- | 14 || November 3 || Vancouver || 6–3 || || Richter || 8–5–1 || 17 || Madison Square Garden || 18,001 || |- | 15 || November 6 || @ Quebec || 4–2 || || Richter || 9–5–1 || 19 || Colisée de Québec || 14,603 || |- | 16 || November 8 || Tampa Bay || 6–3 || || Richter || 10–5–1 || 21 || Madison Square Garden || 16,618 || |- | 17 || November 10 || Winnipeg || 2–1 || || Richter || 11–5–1 || 23 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |- | 18 || November 13 || @ Washington || 2–0 || || Richter || 12–5–1 || 25 || USAir Arena || 17,519 || |- | 19 || November 14 || San Jose || 3–3 || OT || Richter || 12–5–2 || 26 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |- | 20 || November 16 || @ Florida || 4–2 || || Healy || 13–5–2 || 28 || Miami Arena || 14,021 || |- | 21 || November 19 || @ Tampa Bay || 5–3 || || Richter || 14–5–2 || 30 || Thunderdome || 19,993 || |- | 22 || November 23 || Montreal || 5–4 || || Richter || 15–5–2 || 32 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |- | 23 || November 24 || @ Ottawa || 7–1 || || Healy || 16–5–2 || 34 || Ottawa Civic Centre || 10,411 || |- | 24 || November 27 || @ N.Y. Islanders || 4–6 || || Healy || 16–6–2 || 34 || Nassau Coliseum || 16,297 || |- | 25 || November 28 || Washington || 3–1 || || Richter || 17–6–2 || 36 || Madison Square Garden || 17,941 || |- | 26 || November 30 || @ New Jersey || 3–1 || || Richter || 18–6–2 || 38 || Brendan Byrne Arena || 19,040 || |-

|- | 27 || December 4 || @ Toronto || 4–3 || || Richter || 19–6–2 || 40 || Maple Leaf Gardens || 15,728 || |- | 28 || December 5 || New Jersey || 2–1 || || Richter || 20–6–2 || 42 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |- | 29 || December 8 || Edmonton || 1–1 || OT || Richter || 20–6–3 || 43 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |- | 30 || December 13 || Buffalo || 2–0 || || Richter || 21–6–3 || 45 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |- | 31 || December 15 || Hartford || 5–2 || || Richter || 22–6–3 || 47 || Madison Square Garden || 17,967 || |- | 32 || December 17 || @ Detroit || 4–6 || || Healy || 22–7–3 || 47 || Joe Louis Arena || 19,875 || |- | 33 || December 19 || Ottawa || 6–3 || || Richter (W)|| 23–7–3 || 49 || Madison Square Garden || 17,935 || |- | 34 || December 22 || @ Florida || 2–3 || || Richter || 23–8–3 || 49 || Miami Arena || 14,706 || |- | 35 || December 23 || @ Washington || 1–0 || || Healy || 24–8–3 || 51 || USAir Arena || 15,772 || |- | 36 || December 26 || New Jersey || 8–3 || || Healy || 25–8–3 || 53 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |- | 37 || December 29 || @ St. Louis || 4–3 || || Richter || 26–8–3 || 55 || St. Louis Arena || 18,163 || |- | 38 || December 31 || @ Buffalo || 1–4 || || Healy || 26–9–3 || 55 || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium || 16,284 || |-

|- | 39 || January 3 || Florida || 3–2 || || Richter || 27-9–3 || 57 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |- | 40 || January 5 || Calgary || 1–4 || || Richter || 27–10–3 || 57 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |- | 41 || January 8 || @ Montreal || 2–3 || || Healy || 27–11–3 || 57 || Montreal Forum || 17,425 || |- | 42 || January 10 || Tampa Bay || 2–5 || || Healy || 27–12–3 || 57 || Madison Square Garden || 17,993 || |- | 43 || January 14 || Philadelphia || 5–2 || || Richter || 28–12–3 || 59 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |- | 44 || January 16 || @ Chicago || 5–1 || || Richter || 29–12–3 || 61 || Chicago Stadium || 18,472 || |- | 45 || January 18 || St. Louis || 4–1 || || Richter || 30–12–3 || 63 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |- | 46 || January 25 || @ San Jose || 8–3 || || Richter || 31–12–3 || 65 || San Jose Arena || 17,190 || |- | 47 || January 27 || @ Los Angeles || 5–4 || OT <small>4:58</small> || Richter || 32–12–3 || 67 || Great Western Forum || 16,005 || |- | 48 || January 28 || @ Anaheim || 2–3 || || Healy || 32–13–3 || 67 || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim || 17,174 || |- | 49 || January 31 || Pittsburgh || 5–3 || || Richter || 33–13–3 || 69 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |-

|- | 50 || February 2 || N.Y. Islanders || 4–4 || OT || Richter || 33–13–4 || 70 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |- | 51 || February 3 || @ Boston || 3–0 || || Healy || 34–13–4 || 72 || Boston Garden || 14,448 || |- | 52 || February 7 || Washington || 1–4 || || Richter || 34–14–4 || 72 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |- | 53 || February 9 || @ Montreal || 3–4 || OT <small>1:27</small> || Healy || 34–15–4 || 72 || Montreal Forum || 16,725 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bbb;" | || February 11 || Quebec || colspan=5|Postponed (snow); rescheduled for March 2 || Madison Square Garden || || |- | 54 || February 12 || @ Ottawa || 4–3 || OT <small>2:37</small> || Richter || 35–15–4 || 74 || Ottawa Civic Centre || 10,575 || |- | 55 || February 14 || @ Quebec || 4–2 || || Richter || 36–15–4 || 76 || Colisée de Québec || 15,029 || |- | 56 || February 18 || Ottawa || 3–0 || || Richter || 37–15–4 || 78 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |- | 57 || February 19 || @ Hartford || 2–4 || || Richter || 37–16–4 || 78 || Hartford Civic Center || 15,635 || |- | 58 || February 21 || Pittsburgh || 4–3 || OT <small>:08</small> || Richter || 38–16–4 || 80 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |- | 59 || February 23 || Boston || 3–6 || || Healy || 38–17–4 || 80 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |- | 60 || February 24 || @ New Jersey || 3–1 || || Richter || 39–17–4 || 82 || Brendan Byrne Arena || 19,040 || |- | 61 || February 26 || @ Dallas || 1–3 || || Richter || 39–18–4 || 82 || Reunion Arena || 16,914 || |- | 62 || February 28 || Philadelphia || 4–1 || || Richter || 40–18–4 || 84 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |-

|- | 63 || March 2 || Quebec || 5–2 || || Richter || 41–18–4 || 86 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |- | 64 || March 4 || N.Y. Islanders || 3–3 || OT || Richter || 41–18–5 || 87 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |- | 65 || March 5 || @ N.Y. Islanders || 5–4 || || Richter || 42–18–5 || 89 || Nassau Coliseum || 16,297 || |- | 66 || March 7 || Detroit || 3–6 || || Richter || 42–19–5 || 89 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |- | 67 || March 9 || @ Washington || 7–5 || || Healy || 43–19–5 || 91 || Halifax Metro Centre || 9,200 || |- | 68 || March 10 || @ Boston || 2–2 || OT || Healy || 43–19–6 || 92 || Boston Garden || 14,448 || |- | 69 || March 12 || @ Pittsburgh || 2–6 || || Healy || 43–20–6 || 92 || Civic Arena || 17,537 || |- | 70 || March 14 || @ Florida || 1–2 || || Richter || 43–21–6 || 92 || Miami Arena || 14,704 || |- | 71 || March 16 || Hartford || 4–0 || || Richter || 44–21–6 || 94 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |- | 72 || March 18 || Chicago || 3–7 || || Richter || 44–22–6 || 94 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |- | 73 || March 22 || @ Calgary || 4–4 || OT || Healy || 44–22–7 || 95 || Olympic Saddledome || 20,230 || |- | 74 || March 23 || @ Edmonton || 5–3 || || Richter || 45–22–7 || 97 || Northlands Coliseum || 14,186 || |- | 75 || March 25 || @ Vancouver || 5–2 || || Richter || 46–22–7 || 99 || Pacific Coliseum || 16,150 || |- | 76 || March 27 || @ Winnipeg || 1–3 || || Healy || 46–23–7 || 99 || Winnipeg Arena || 12,793 || |- | 77 || March 29 || @ Philadelphia || 4–3 || || Richter || 47–23–7 || 101 || The Spectrum || 17,380 || |-

|- | 78 || April 1 || Dallas || 3–0 || || Richter || 48–23–7 || 103 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |- | 79 || April 2 || @ New Jersey || 4–2 || || Richter || 49–23–7 || 105 || Brendan Byrne Arena || 19,040 || |- | 80 || April 4 || Florida || 3–2 || || Richter || 50–23–7 || 107 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |- | 81 || April 8 || Toronto || 5–3 || || Richter || 51–23–7 || 109 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |- | 82 || April 10 || @ N.Y. Islanders || 4–5 || || Healy || 51–24–7 || 109 || Nassau Coliseum || 16,297 || |- | 83 || April 12 || Buffalo || 3–2 || || Richter || 52–24–7 || 111 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |- | 84 || April 14 || Philadelphia || 2–2 || OT || Richter || 52–24–8 || 112 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |-

|- | Legend:

Playoffs

|- | 1 || April 17 || N.Y. Islanders || 6–0 || || Richter || Rangers lead 1–0 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |- | 2 || April 18 || N.Y. Islanders || 6–0 || || Richter || Rangers lead 2–0 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |- | 3 || April 21 || @ N.Y. Islanders || 5–1 || || Richter || Rangers lead 3–0 || Nassau Coliseum || 16,297 || |- | 4 || April 24 || @ N.Y. Islanders || 5–2 || || Richter || Rangers win 4–0 || Nassau Coliseum || 16,287 || |-

|- | 1 || May 1 || Washington || 6–3 || || Richter || Rangers lead 1–0 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |- | 2 || May 3 || Washington || 5–2 || || Richter || Rangers lead 2–0 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |- | 3 || May 5 || @ Washington || 3–0 || || Richter || Rangers lead 3–0 || USAir Arena || 18,130 || |- | 4 || May 7 || @ Washington || 2–4 || || Richter || Rangers lead 3–1 || USAir Arena || 18,130 || |- | 5 || May 9 || Washington || 4–3 || || Richter || Rangers win 4–1 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |-

|- | 1 || May 15 || New Jersey || 3–4 || 2OT <small>36:23</small> || Richter || Devils lead 1–0 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |- | 2 || May 17 || New Jersey || 4–0 || || Richter || Series tied 1–1 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |- | 3 || May 19 || @ New Jersey || 3–2 || 2OT <small>26:13</small> || Richter || Rangers lead 2–1 || Brendan Byrne Arena || 19,040 || |- | 4 || May 21 || @ New Jersey || 1–3 || || Richter || Series tied 2–2 || Brendan Byrne Arena || 19,040 || |- | 5 || May 23 || New Jersey || 1–4 || || Richter || Devils lead 3–2 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |- | 6 || May 25 || @ New Jersey || 4–2 || || Richter || Series tied 3–3 || Brendan Byrne Arena || 19,040 || |- | 7 || May 27 || New Jersey || 2–1 || 2OT <small>24:24</small> || Richter || Rangers win 4–3 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |-

|- | 1 || May 31 || Vancouver || 2–3 || OT <small>19:28</small> || Richter || Canucks lead 1–0 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |- | 2 || June 2 || Vancouver || 3–1 || || Richter || Series tied 1–1 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |- | 3 || June 4 || @ Vancouver || 5–1 || || Richter || Rangers lead 2–1 || Pacific Coliseum || 16,150 || |- | 4 || June 7 || @ Vancouver || 4–2 || || Richter || Rangers lead 3–1 || Pacific Coliseum || 16,150 || |- | 5 || June 9 || Vancouver || 3–6 || || Richter || Rangers lead 3–2 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |- | 6 || June 11 || @ Vancouver || 1–4 || || Richter || Series tied 3–3 || Pacific Coliseum || 16,150 || |- | 7 || June 14 || Vancouver || 3–2 || || Richter || Rangers win 4–3 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || |-

|- | Legend:

Player statistics

Skaters
Goaltenders

<sup>†</sup>Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Rangers. Stats reflect time with Rangers only. <br /><sup>‡</sup>Traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with Rangers only.

Awards and records

45th NHL All-Star Game

New York Rangers NHL All-Star representatives at the 45th NHL All-Star Game in New York City, New York at Madison Square Garden.

Players

Goaltenders

Trainers

Transactions

Draft picks

New York's picks at the 1993 NHL entry draft in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, at the Colisée de Québec.

Expansion Draft

New York's losses at the 1993 NHL expansion draft in Quebec City, Quebec.

Supplemental Draft

New York's picks at the 1993 NHL supplemental draft.

Media

Ranger games were carried on the MSG Network, with some games broadcast on MSG II due to conflicts with New York Knicks National Basketball Association and New York Yankees Major League Baseball games. The broadcast crew included Sam Rosen, Bruce Beck, John Davidson, and Al Trautwig.

The games were also broadcast on radio station WFAN-AM; the broadcast team included Marv Albert, Howie Rose, Sal Messina, and Steve Somers. Some games were broadcast on WEVD-AM due to conflicts with New York Knicks National Basketball Association games and New York Jets National Football League games.

References

Bibliography

External links