Rangers
5. Davidson Stuns Isles
1979 was supposed to be a big year for the Islanders, who finished the year with the best record in all of hockey. 51 wins and 116 points, meanwhile the Rangers finished with 40 wins and 91 points. But thanks to the brilliant goaltending of John Davidson, the Rangers shocked the hockey world and pulled off the upset. Beating the Isles in six games. JD played every minute of that playoff run, winning 11 games in the playoffs that year. In the upset of the Islanders, he allowed a grand total of 13 goals in the series, shutting down that high powered offense in the six game series. To make this run even better, the Rangers pushed the Montreal Canadiens to five games in the finals before falling, but it was the play of JD in the 2nd round against the Isles that makes this memorable and worthy of putting on this list.
4. King Crowns Caps
The lockout shortened 2013 season was a tough one for most of the league, but the Rangers made most of it, winning 28 of their 44 games and making the playoffs. During that first round series, they found themselves down a 3-2 hole after getting downed in DC. Against the ropes, they needed their best players to step up. They did. Henrik Lundqvist played out of his mind in that series, more so at the end of the series. There had been some debate as to who the greatest goalie is in Rangers history, and this series and performance over the final two games, put Hank right near the top of the discussion. Over the final two games, the Rangers outscored Washington 6-0 and Hank stopped an unreal 62 shots over that span. He was playing like a man possessed and some argue that there has been no finer display of netminding in Hank's career then this.
3. Captain Clutch Delivers
1994 was supposed to be the Rangers year. 52 wins and 112 points, both good enough for the best record in all of hockey. They started that playoff run with a couple of easy series wins, sweeping the Islanders and beating the Caps in five. Then ran into a little trouble with the Devils. It was the last two games of this series that will go down in not only Ranger but Stanley Cup Lure. First its game six, a must win game for the boys from Broadway. Mark Messier made the comments in the paper that they had to win on this night. And they did, thanks to their leader. He started it by setting up a goal by Kovalev in the second. Then he took the game over in the 3rd, scoring a natural hat trick, the last one an empty netter to seal it. The Captain game through when it matters most.
2. Matteau! Matteau! Matteau!
This one was easy to pick. Two nights after Messier cashed in on the prediction with the Hat Trick, the Rangers needed another hero. This time, it came in the form of grinder Stephan Matteau. He came to New York in a trade with the Hawks at the deadline and scored 4 goals in 12 regular season games, and added six more in the playoffs. The last one was one of the biggest in team history. After the Devils tied the game late in regulation, this battle raged into overtime. Then a second one. Early on in the second OT, it happened:
1. The Waiting Is Over!
After the goal above, it was on to face the Canucks in the Stanley Cup Finals. The 1940s chants had been hanging over the Rangers for years, and they were looking for a way to break it. It took seven games, but it finally happened. One of the biggest moments came in Game Four in Vancouver, a 4-1 Rangers win. The moment was Mike Richter making the kick save on the Pavel Bure Penalty Shot. The moment that tops this list came ten days later. Mark Messier jammed home the go ahead (game winner) late in the 2nd period. Trevor Linden cut the Ranger lead to one in the 3rd but it wasn't enough. As time ticked down, well you already know the rest:
Now on to the boys from the Island!
Islanders
5. JP Parise Wins First Series
There was magic in the air for the Islanders in 1975. It was their third year in the league and for the first two seasons, they had looked a little flat. Then in 75, the Isles shocked the hockey world and made the playoffs. It started off with a three game series against the Rangers. The teams split the first two games. Game three went into overtime. It took only eleven seconds for it to happen. JP Parise cashed in a cross ice pass to end the game and the series, sending the Islanders on to the next round. Up until that point, it was the fastest overtime goal in Playoff history. The Islanders would pull off a miracle in round two coming back from down 0-3 against the Pens to win that series and almost doing it again in the next round before falling in seven games to the Flyers. But all of this started with that JP goal eleven seconds into OT at MSG.
4. Bates Buried Penalty Shot
The 2002 opening round series between the Islanders and Maple Leafs was a bitter and hard fought series, the best one of the first round that year. Sure the Leafs won the series (the only series lost to a team that made this list), but it was in game four that still gives a lot of fans chills even to this day. Game was tied at three with two and a half minutes left in regulation.Shawn Bates got knocked down on a breakaway and was rewarded a penalty shot. It was only the third time in Islander history that a penalty shot had been taken in the Stanley Cup playoffs. He didn't miss:
Its a moment that still gives me chills even now writing this!
3. Tonelli Keeps Streak Alive
1982 was the 3rd year of the four in a row for the Islanders. But it almost wasn't to be.They met the Penguins in the opening round. Went up 2-0 on the series, only to see the Pens come back and force a game five. Pittsburgh kept the surprises coming, taking a 3-1 lead into the 3rd period. Then the Islanders got to work. Mike McEwan cut the lead in half. Tonelli tied the game with a little over two minutes left in regulation. He kept it going in Overtime, causing a turnover in the Penguin end and dashing up the ice. He got knocked down, got the puck to Bob Nystom who took a shot, which was stopped. Tonelli jammed at the rebound and scored, sending the Isles on to the next round. One of the hardest working guys on the team got rewarded for his outstanding efforts.
2. The Easter Epic
By the time the 1987 playoffs rolled around, the Islanders had been on a bit of a downward trend since the Cup run. But that 87 team showed it still had a little magic in it. the Islanders came back from down 3-1 in the series to force a game seven, which they also had to come back in. Bryan Trottier scored with a little less than six minutes left in regulation to force overtime. It would take a lot longer then that to decide this one. This marathon contest lasted into the 4th overtime period before Pat Lafontaine finally ended the game and series, sending the Isles on to the next round. The goal was scored at 2:37 AM, Easter Sunday. Magic still had some left in the Islanders tank.
1. The Goal That Started The Dynasty
May 24th, 1980. Its a date that all Islanders fans know very very well. It started the last great Dynasty in the game of hockey. There was a lot riding on that season for the Islanders. They had been upset by the Rangers the year before (see above) and struggled for most of the season. But things started to turn around and the Isles got hot at the right time. It lead to tough series wins over the Kings Bruins and Sabers before the showdown in the Finals against the Flyers. Series went to game six, and nobody on the Islanders wanted to have to go back to game seven in Philadelphia. New York took a lead on two controversial goals by Denis Potvin and Duane Sutter, but the Flyers battled back to force overtime. Early in the first overtime, the Islanders got the goal that started they Dynasty. Tonelli to Nystrom HE SCORES!!! BOB NYSTROM SCORES THE GOAL, THE ISLANDERS WIN THE STANLEY CUP!
There you have it the best playoff moments in New York Hockey history!
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