Who Had the Rangers Number?

   On January 23, 1944 the New York Rangers traveled to the Detroit Olympia for the third of the seasons five games in the Motor City. Although the Red Wings owned a 4-1 records of the New York Club at this point in the season, the visitors did not except the record beating that the received at the hands of their hosts.

   After the second intermission, the two teams returned to the ice with the Red Wings holding a commanding 7-0 lead. The Red Wings then proceeded to score 8 goals in the next 20 minutes of play to win by a 15-0 score, Ouch!!. Three of their goals were scored by left winger and future Hall of famer Syd Howe. The RedWings had 22 assists in the game and 14 assists in the third period alone.

    The Rangers still had two more trips to see the Red Wings in Detroit left on the season schedule. The reurned a few weeks later on February 3. This time, they at least scored two goals. The problem was Howe scored 6 all by himself in leading the Red Wings to a 12-2 win.

   A final trip to Detroit in March saw the Red Wings take an Olympia sweep at the Rangers and a more repectable 6-5 win and the season series by a 8-1-1 count. The Red Wings went on to a 26-18-6 season record and a scond place finish. The Rangers went on to a 6-39-5 record in sixth place with only 17 points.

   As of this writing, the two clubs have not faced each other since December 6, 2009. They will however see each in two weeks on February 7, when the Red Wings put their career 272-220-103 record against the Rangers on the line. The Red Wings have scored 1,815 goals against the Rangers and given up 1,627 goals.   

     Tomorrow we will look at the opening of the first Winter Olympic Games.