1928–29 New York Rangers season



The 1928–29 New York Rangers season was the 3rd season for the team in the National Hockey League. The Rangers finished 2nd in the American Division with a 21–13–10 record and qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs. In the post season, the Rangers won series against the New York Americans and Toronto Maple Leafs to reach the 1929 Stanley Cup Finals where they lost to the Boston Bruins 2–0.

New York Rangers 2, Toronto Maple Leafs 0
The playoffs were now between division finishers of each division, rather than a division champion from each division. The Boston Bruins knocked off the Montreal Canadiens, the New York Rangers beat the New York Americans and, the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Detroit Cougars. The Rangers beat Toronto and then the Bruins won their first Stanley Cup defeating the Rangers. In the process, Boston became one of the few Cup winners in history to not lose a single game in the playoffs, and the last team until 1952 to win every playoff game they had.

Boston Bruins 2, New York Rangers 0
In the 1929 Stanley Cup Finals, the Boston Bruins faced their divisional rival, the New York Rangers, who had eliminated them from the playoffs the previous season in a best-of-three series. New York had defeated the Detroit Cougars and the Toronto Maple Leafs to earn a spot in the Finals.

Game 1 was played at the Boston Garden where second period goals by Dit Clapper and Dutch Gainor led the Bruins to a 2-0 win. Tiny Thompson posted his third shutout in four playoff games.

Game 2 moved to Madison Square Garden in New York City where the teams played to a scoreless first period. Boston jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a goal by Harry Oliver in the second. Desperate, the Rangers played furiously in the third and Butch Keeling scored his third of the playoffs to tie it up. With less than two minutes to go, Bill Carson was the hero, defeating the Rangers 2–1, to clinch the first Stanley Cup in Bruins history and making them the third American team to win the Cup.

Awards and Records

 * Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Frank Boucher