Fansided

Luckiest jerseys in the NHL’s long and storied history

By Bruin Belisle

DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 9: Ray Bourque #77 of the Colorado Avalanche lifts the cup with Joe Sakic #19 after the Colorado Avalanche defeated the New Jersey Devils 3-1 in game seven of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals at Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche take the series 4-3. (Photo by B Bennett/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 9: Ray Bourque #77 of the Colorado Avalanche lifts the cup with Joe Sakic #19 after the Colorado Avalanche defeated the New Jersey Devils 3-1 in game seven of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals at Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche take the series 4-3. (Photo by B Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Canadian professional hockey player Mark Messier of the New York Rangers hoists the Stanley Cup championship award trophy over his head as teammates American Brian Noonan (#16) and Canadian Glenn Healy (#30) look on during the opening night of the 1995 NHL season, Madison Square Garden, New York, January 20, 1995. The 1994-95 Season was shortened to the 1995 Season because of a lockout in Fall 1994. The Rangers opening game was against the Buffalo Sabres and they lost 2-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images)
Canadian professional hockey player Mark Messier of the New York Rangers hoists the Stanley Cup championship award trophy over his head as teammates American Brian Noonan (#16) and Canadian Glenn Healy (#30) look on during the opening night of the 1995 NHL season, Madison Square Garden, New York, January 20, 1995. The 1994-95 Season was shortened to the 1995 Season because of a lockout in Fall 1994. The Rangers opening game was against the Buffalo Sabres and they lost 2-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images) /

21. 1994 New York Rangers

The New York Rangers were the first American franchise to win the Stanley Cup in the 1927-28 season. The season before would mark the last time a Canadian team won the Cup. Obviously kidding, even though it feels that way.

You’ll likely remember the Rangers at their unluckiest back in the 1940’s. Goaltending was a massive issue for that team and they would often lose by double digits. The Rangers had two goaltenders in the 1940’s post over 6.00 goals against averages. Not great. Fast forward to today and goaltending is their only non-issue.

Henrik Lundqvist is a future hall-of-fame goaltender that will likely never win a Stanley Cup. He’s as solid as they get between the pipes and it’s a shame this team no longer competes, because unless he gets traded, he likely won’t come close to a Cup before he retires.

The Rangers are also lucky to have retired the greatest hockey player of all time in their building. Wayne Gretzky ended his career with the Rangers and had a beautiful semi-planned/semi-impromptu retirement ceremony on the ice after the game.

Their luckiest season came in 1993-94. The stacked Rangers team, led by Mark Messier and Brian Leetch (and Alex Kovalev, Sergei Zubov). The first two rounds of the playoffs were won handily by the Rangers, but they met a very good New Jersey Devils team in the conference final. Here’s where a little luck came into play.

The Rangers were down 3-2 in the series, going to New Jersey for the sixth game. Messier is one of the greatest players to ever play the game, but everyone knows how guarantees work. They don’t. Not only did Messier back up his words with a win, but he had a hattrick in the 4-2 win. No one backs up a guarantee without a little luck.

The Rangers would go on to beat the Canucks in seven games in the Stanley Cup final. The win ended a 54 year drought. They would restart the drought the next season, which is currently at 25 years.

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