1926–27 New York Rangers season

The 1926–27 New York Rangers season was the first in the history of the franchise. The team placed first in the new American Division and qualified for the playoffs, losing to the Boston Bruins. They were the last expansion team to win their division until the 1967–68 Philadelphia Flyers (which had a division full of expansion teams) and the last to do so without guarantee to win it until the 2017–18 Vegas Golden Knights. In the playoffs that year, they lost to second place Boston Bruins in the Semifinals.

1926–27 New York Rangers
American Division champions
Division1st American
1926–27 record25–13–6
Goals for95
Goals against72
Team information
General managerLester Patrick
CoachLester Patrick
CaptainBill Cook
ArenaMadison Square Garden
Team leaders
GoalsBill Cook (33)
AssistsFrank Boucher (15)
PointsBill Cook (37)
Penalty minutesTaffy Abel (78)
WinsLorne Chabot (22)
Goals against averageLorne Chabot (1.56)

Off-season

The Rangers team was organized by Conn Smythe who used his extensive knowledge of available amateur players along with sound selection of players available from the dispersal of the Western Hockey League (WHL):

First picture of team at training camp in Toronto in 1926.

Smythe signed several players from the amateur Minneapolis Millers, including Taffy Abel, Billy Boyd and Ching Johnson. The 1925–26 Millers also provided other players to the NHL in the future, including Cooney Weiland and Tiny Thompson, Paul Thompson's brother.

Training camp was held in Toronto at the Ravina Gardens arena near Smythe's home. However, before the season started, Smythe was fired by the club and Lester Patrick took over from Smythe. Patrick received the job as part of the dispersal agreement of the WHL. His brother Frank received a job at the Boston Bruins. Smythe would eventually receive a $10,000 severance, a large amount in those days.

Regular season

Unlike the arenas where the players played before, the Madison Square Garden was kept heated. The temperature was warm due to the insistence of Tex Rickard, who insisted that "the public was everything and the performers nothing". The players complained about the conditions publicly and to Lester Patrick.[1]

On opening night November 16, 1926 at Madison Square Garden, the ceremonial face-off between Frank Boucher of the Rangers and Nels Stewart of the Montreal Maroons was done by Lois Moran, the silent-film movie star.[2] The opening night referee was Lou Marsh.[3] The starting lineup was Boucher, Bill Cook, Bun Cook, Ching Johnson, Taffy Abel and Hal Winkler.[4] The Rangers would win the game 1–0.

Final standings
American Division
GP W L T GF GA PTS
New York Rangers4425136957256
Boston Bruins4421203978945
Chicago Black Hawks441922311511641
Pittsburgh Pirates44152637910833
Detroit Cougars44122847610528

[5]

Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against
Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Record vs. opponents
1926-27 NHL Records
Team BOS CHI DET MON MTM NYA NYR OTT PIT TOR
Boston —3–2–15–11–2–12–22–22–3–11–34–21–3
Chicago 2–3–1—3–2–12–22–22–1–12–42–22–42–2
Detroit 1–52–3–1—0–41–33–11–3–21–32–41–2–1
M. Canadiens 2–1–12–24–0—5–15–11–31–53–0–15–1
M. Maroons 2–22–23–11–5—4–21–2–11–3–21–2–15–1
N.Y. Americans 2–21–2–11–31–52–4—1–33–34–02–3–1
N.Y. Rangers 3–2–14–23–15–13–1–23–3—0–3–15–12–1–1
Ottawa 3–12–23–15–13–1–23–33–0–1—3–15–0–1
Pittsburgh 2–44–24–20–3–12–1–10–41–51–3—1–2–1
Toronto 3–12–22–1–11–51–53–2–11–2–20–5–12–1–1—

Schedule and results
1926–27 Game Log
November: 4–1–0 (Home: 2–0–0; Road: 2–1–0)
December: 3–5–1 (Home: 2–1–1; Road: 1–4–0)
January: 8–1–2 (Home: 5–0–2; Road: 3–1–0)
February: 5–4–1 (Home: 2–4–0; Road: 3–0–1)
March: 5–2–2 (Home: 3–0–0; Road: 2–2–2)

Playoffs
Main article: 1927 Stanley Cup Playoffs

The Rangers earned a bye in the first round and met the Boston Bruins in the semi-final. The Rangers were limited to one goal in the two games, losing the series three goals to one.

Key:   Win   Loss

1927 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Player statistics
Skaters
Goaltenders
Regular Season
Player GP TOI W L T GA GAA SO
Lorne Chabot3623072295561.4610
Hal Winkler‡8514341161.872
Goaltenders
Playoffs
Player GP TOI W L T GA GAA SO
Lorne Chabot212001131.501

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

[6]

Note:
Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

See also

References
  • Boucher, Frank; Frayne, Trent (1973). When The Rangers Were Young. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company. ISBN 0-396-06852-9.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Notes
  1. Gibson, Dick (December 17, 1926). "Tips & Tales". Border Cities Star. p. 2.
  2. Boucher & Frayne 1973, pp. 2–3.
  3. Boucher & Frayne 1973, p. 3.
  4. Boucher & Frayne 1973, pp. 3–5.
  5. Standings: NHL Public Relations Department (2008). Dave McCarthy; et al. (eds.). THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Official Guide & Record Book/2009. National Hockey League. p. 146. ISBN 978-1-894801-14-0.
  6. "1926–27 New York Rangers". hockeydb.com. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
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