Airdate: TBD - FSN
The New York Rangers were a fairly new franchise in 1928, in only their second season in existence. Yet they had a made a magical run to the Stanley Cup Finals. This run was in large part due to their larger than life coach, Lester Patrick, a hockey legend both on and off the ice. But in the second game of the 1928 Stanley Cup finals, the Rangers luck had run out. Down 1-0 in the series to the historic Montreal Maroons, the Rangers lost their goalie to an eye injury from a shot on goal. Thankfully, the rules permitted them to elect a substitute, but also required their opponent to accept the choice. The Rangers proposed a replacement, a young NHL goalie who happened to be in the stands, but the Maroon’s coach, Eddie Gerard, spitefully rejected him. This move stung Patrick. After all, in the 1922 Stanley Cup Finals, Gerard himself was allowed to come in as a replacement goalie, given permission by the opposing coach at the time…Lester Patrick. Gerard was clearly no sportsman.
Patrick refused to be stopped and decided to get into goal himself. Patrick, of course, had been an outstanding player in his day, but his Stanley Cup wins of 1906 and 1907 were just memories now. In 1928, the well-respected coach, known as the “Silver Fox” for his gray hair, was 44 years old and hadn't played a minute in seven years. Yet he fearlessly donned the goalie pads and awaited the Maroon’s bombardment.
Patrick played valiantly and the Rangers protected the “Old Man in the Net”. Patrick’s play inspired his team and the players fought hard for the coach they respected and loved. The Rangers went on to win the game in overtime in dramatic fashion…and a legend was born. The Rangers carried that momentum and won a decisive game 5, bringing the New York Rangers its first ever Stanley Cup title. Lester Patrick, a legend in his own time, had become a legend in yet another era. And had done so the right way, upholding the golden rule of sport: sportsmanship.