1957–58 New York Rangers season



The 1957–58 New York Rangers season was the 32nd season for the team in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Rangers finished 2nd in the league and lost in the Semi-finals to the Boston Bruins 4 games to 2.

Boston Bruins 4, New York Rangers 2
The Bruins and Rangers last met in the 1940 Semi-finals where New York prevailed 4 games to 2 on their way to winning in the 1940 Stanley Cup Finals. Due to the circus performing at Madison Square Garden, after Game 2, the remaining games were played in Boston. The line of Fleming Mackell (4 goals, 14 points), Jerry Toppazzini (8 goals, 10 points) and Don McKenney (5 goals, 12 points) powered the Bruins to a 4 games to 2 triumph.

Game 1 at Madison Square Garden saw Harry Lumley play his only game of the 1958 playoffs in goal for the Bruins. After Fleming Mackell put Boston up 1-0 in the first minute of the game, the Rangers Larry Popein tied it up at 4:40. Jerry Toppazzini countered three minutes later but then the Rangers special teams took over the game. With Jean-Guy Gendron in the box for charging, Andy Hebenton scored a Shorthanded goal to tie it 2-2. Later in the period, Vic Stasiuk was sent off for hooking and Camille Henry scored on the Power play for a 3-2 Rangers lead at the end of the first. Former Bruins Dave Creighton scored another power goal in the second period, countered by Bronco Horvath. Creighton scored again in the third as Gump Worsley earned the 5-3 Rangers win.

Game 2 at New York had Don Simmons in net for the Bruins. In the first period, Doug Mohns scored on a point shot but Andy Bathgate responded with 2 goals. Don McKenney tied it up late in the period on a solo rush. Cutting to the left of a Ranger defenseman, he shot against the grain and beat Worsley to the top right corner. The Rangers Jean-Guy Gendron scored the only goal of the second period. The Bruins pressed in the third period. At 11:13, Mackell took the puck into the Rangers right corner and passed to Mohns at the left point. He quickly passed to McKenney who was to the left of the net. McKenney slid a backhand shot through Worsley's legs to send the game into overtime. Fleming Mackell sent Jerry Toppazzini in for the winner which he celebrated with a Bronx salute. Mackell's 3 assists led the Bruins to a 4-3 victory.

Game 3 at Boston Garden was dominated by the Bruins. They pumped 36 shots on Gump Worsley and the Rangers took nine penalties. In the first period, the Bruins scored 3 power play goals, one by Doug Mohns and two by Don McKenney to take a 3-0 lead. In the second period, playing with John Bucyk and Vic Stasiuk, Carl "Buddy" Boone added an even strength goal. Norm Johnson scored the first playoff goal of his career, shorthanded, in the third period. Don Simmons made 28 saves and earned the shutout as the Bruins romped to a 5-0 win.

Game 4 at Boston saw the Bruins again out shoot the Rangers, sending 41 shots on Worsley and force the Rangers into taking eight penalties. However, the Rangers would open the scoring with a shorthanded goal by Dean Prentice and then Dave Creighton would add a power play goal for a 2-0 Ranger lead at the end of the first period. In the second period, Jerry Toppazzini cut the lead to 2-1 on the power play but Andy Hebenton countered at 10:17. Andy Bathgate then scored the Rangers second shorthanded goal of the game to make it 4-1. In the third period, Toppazzini scored shorthanded but another Bathgate goal saw the Rangers win 5-2 and tie the series at two games apiece.

Game 5 at Boston was a Bruins romp where Worsley was peppered with 42 shots. After first period goals by Fleming Mackell, Bronco Horvath and Don McKenney, Leo Boivin took a tripping penalty at 3:18 of the second period. Toppazzini and Mackell outworked three Rangers behind Worsley's net, resulting in a Mackell shot from the right side which Worsley kicked out. Fern Flaman slammed in the rebound for a 4-0 Bruins lead. Five minutes later, a John Bucyk pass from the left corner back to Flaman at the right point saw his shot hit the skate of Rangers Bill Gadsby and trickle in for a 5-0 lead. Two minutes later, Parker MacDonald got the Rangers on the board as he flipped a rebound over Simmons. In the third period, on a 5-3 power play, Toppazzini ripped home a shot from the point for a 6-1 Bruins win and a 3-2 series lead.

Game 6 at Boston saw Worsley face more than 40 shots for the third straight game. A power play goal by Larry Regan in the game's first minute, followed by a shorthanded goal by Toppazzini and another man advantage goal by Norm Johnson staked the Bruins to a 3-0 lead. Harry Howell responded at 14:33 but Fleming Mackell countered three minutes later putting the Bruins up 4-1. In the second period, Andy Bathgate and Doug Mohns traded goals. In the third period, a goal by Mackell and two by Toppazzini for the Hat trick saw the Bruins cruise to a 8-2 win and a series victory.

Regular Season

 * Scoring
 * Goaltending

Playoffs

 * Scoring
 * Goaltending

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals

MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts

Awards and Records

 * Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Camille Henry
 * Hart Memorial Trophy: Andy Bathgate, Runner-up
 * Bill Gadsby, Defense, NHL First Team All-Star
 * Andy Bathgate, Right Wing, NHL Team Second All-Star
 * Camille Henry, Left Wing, NHL Team Second All-Star

Video
A minute of silent highlights of Game 5 of the 1958 Semi-finals between the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers on April 3, 1958. The last four goals of the game are shown including two second period goals by the Bruins Fern Flaman, a goal by the Rangers Parker MacDonald and a third period goal by Jerry Toppazzini in the Bruins 6-1 win.