The New York Rangers are a professional hockey team in the National Hockey League (the NHL). The New York Rangers play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference with four other teams: the New Jersey Devils, the New York Islanders, the Philadelphia Flyers and the Pittsburgh Penguins.  Rangers tickets will be a hot item during the 2011-2012 NHL hockey schedule.

Rangers 2011-2012 Outlook

The New York Rangers have extremely high hopes for the 2011-2012 NHL season.  After missing the playoffs during the 2009-2010 NHL season, the Rangers returned to the playoffs in 2010-2011 only to be bounced by the Washington Capitals in the opening Conference Quarterfinal round of the playoffs.  Head Coach John Torterella and the Rangers vowed not to let that happen again and they have lived up their lofty expectations.  The New York Rangers currently have the most points in the Eastern Conference and are looking to secure home ice advantage throughout their spirited run to the NHL Finals.  The Rangers plan on hoisting the Stanley Cup Trophy this spring to follow up the amazing Super Bowl Championship that the New York Football Giants made earlier this year.  Boy does the New York tri-state area have a lot to cheer about it with it's sports teams.  Get your Rangers hockey tickets at Madison Square Garden before it's too late.

History

The New York Rangers franchise was founded in New York in 1925.  The New York Rangers won the franchise’s first Stanley Cup in only its second season in the NHL.  The New York Rangers also won Stanley Cups in 1933 and 1940.  Although the New York Rangers have always had a successful franchise, the New York Rangers experienced a Stanley Cup drought for over 50 years from 1940 through 1994.  During the 1993-1994 NHL season, the New York Rangers claimed the Presidents’ Trophy by finishing with the best record in the NHL - 52-24-8, good for 112 points – a franchise record.  After cruising through the Conference Quarterfinals (4-0 over the New York Islanders) and the Conference Semifinals (4-1 over the Washington Capitals), the New York Rangers needed 7 games to defeat the New Jersey Devils in the Conference Finals to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.  After falling behind 3 games to 2 in the Devils Series, Captain Mark Messier guaranteed a victory in Game 6 on the road in New Jersey and a Game 7 victory back at the Garden.  Messier delivered on both guarantees – In Game 6, Messier recorded a natural hat trick in the 3rd period to lead the Rangers to a come from behind victory over the Devils to set up the decisive Game 7 back at the Garden.  The Rangers led 1-0 the entire game until the Devils tied the contest at 1-1 with less than 10 seconds remaining in the game.  The Rangers avenged the Curse of 1940, however, with Stephane Matteau’s game-winning goal in the 2nd overtime period.  The New York Rangers once again needed 7 games to defeat the Vancouver Canucks in the Stanley Cup Finals and the drought was finally over.  Rangers Defender Brian Leetch became the first American-born to win the Conn Smythe Trophy and Mark Messier became the first player in NHL history to captain 2 different teams to a Stanley Cup Championship.  Since the 1994 championship, the New York Rangers have only advanced to the NHL playoffs 5 times, reaching the Conference Finals only once during that stretch.
          
The New York Rangers have retired the following players’ numbers: Eddie Giacomin’s #1 (retired on March 15, 1989); Brian Leetch’s #2 (retired on January 24, 2008); Rod Gilbert’s #7 (retired on October 14, 1979); Adam Graves’ #9 (number to be retired during 2008-2009 season); Mark Messier's #11 (retired on January 12, 2006); Mike Richter's #35 (retired on February 4, 2004); and Wayne Gretzky's #99 (retired league-wide by the NHL on February 6, 2000).

Rangers TV/Radio

All New York Rangers hockey games can be seen on the Madison Square Garden television network (MSG & MSG+) in the greater New York tri-state area.  Local television station WPIX-DT may also televise New York Rangers hockey games periodically throughout the NHL season.  ESPN has television rights to New York Rangers games based on the popularity of the game. Tune into 1050 ESPN Radio on your AM dial to catch each New York Rangers hockey game on the radio.  Local radio station WNYM 970 on your AM dial may also broadcast New York Rangers hockey games periodically throughout the NHL season. 

The New York Rangers play their home games inside the hallowed walls of Madison Square Garden.  Madison Square Garden is located right in the heart of midtown Manhattan, on Seventh Avenue between 31st and 33rd Streets.  In addition to hosting all New York Rangers NHL Hockey games, Madison Square Garden also hosts all of the professional basketball games for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association, all of the professional basketball games for the New York Liberty of the Women’s National Basketball Association and all of the professional lacrosse games for the New York Titans of the National Lacrosse League.  Madison Square Garden holds a capacity of 18,200 devoted die-hard New York Rangers fans.  Madison Square Garden is considered “The World’s Most Famous Arena”.  It has played host to numerous memorable and historic NBA basketball games, NHL hockey games, concerts and boxing events, as well as exciting theatre events and concerts in the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden.  It has also hosted the Big East Men’s College Basketball Tournament since 1983.

Stadium:            Madison Square Garden
                            Two Pennsylvania Plaza
                            New York City, New York 10121

http://rangers.nhl.com
www.thegarden.com

2008 New York Rangers
2009 New York Rangers
2011 New York Rangers