The New York Rangers walked into the roaring cauldron of Chicago Stadium on March 20, 1968, knowing they needed every point they could gather in the final stretch of the season. Chasing the Montreal Canadiens for first place, the Rangers faced a desperate Blackhawks team battling Toronto for the final playoff spot and the atmosphere made sure both teams felt the pressure. But on this night, two Rangers stole the show: captain Bob Nevin and goaltender Ed Giacomin.
Nevin delivered one of his standout performances of the season, recording the second of his five career hat tricks. He opened the scoring midway through the first period, burying his 25th goal of the year behind Dave Dryden with help from Don Marshall. Nevin later returned the favour in the second frame, assisting on Marshall’s tally that gave the Rangers a 3-1 cushion.
Chicago surged back in the third, with Stan Mikita and Doug Mohns striking to tie the game 3-3 in front of a charged home crowd. But with the game on the line, Nevin took command. At 14:27 of the third, he snapped home his second of the night, his 26th of the season, on a setup from Phil Goyette, ultimately standing as the game-winner. He completed the hat trick in the final minutes, sealing a 5-3 New York victory with help from Marshall and Goyette.
While Nevin supplied the offense, Ed Giacomin provided the backbone. The Rangers netminder faced an incredible 51 shots and turned aside all but three. Chicago’s heavy hitters tested him relentlessly, Gilles Marotte fired eight shots, Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita each registered seven, but Giacomin held firm. Mikita’s goal and assist weren’t enough to overcome his brilliance as the Rangers escaped with two crucial points.
NHL Hockey Trivia: 1967–68 New York Rangers
1. Which future Hall of Famer led the 1967–68 New York Rangers in scoring?
2. The Rangers finished second in the East Division in 1967–68. Which team finished directly ahead of them?
3. New York's goaltending tandem in 1967–68 featured Ed Giacomin and which other goalie?
4. Which Rangers defenseman led the team's blueline in points during the 1967–68 season?
5. The Rangers qualified for the playoffs in 1967–68. Which team eliminated them?
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