The 1940 championship became legendary throughout hockey lore not so much great Rangers team that won the silver chalice, but for the ineptitude of the Rangers for more than half a century afterwards. The Rangers would not be crowned as Stanley Cup champs again for 54 years!
The 1940 Rangers a powerhouse team that went one 19 game stretch through the regular season without a loss. The team had Dave Kerr in nets, brothers Lynn and Muzz Patrick and Mac and Neil Colville, who played with Alex Shibicky on the team's top line. They were coached by first year bench boss Frank Boucher.
Bryan Hextall, who had a quiet beginning to the playoffs, was a goal scoring hero in the finals. He scored a hat trick in game two, and scored the overtime game winning goal in the decisive game 6 to give the Rangers the Cup.
Another key player for the Rangers was the feisty Phil Watson. Watson was brilliant in the semi-finals against Boston, checking the famed "Kraut Line," who finished 1-2-3 in NHL regular season scoring. Watson held them to just a lone goal in their six game series. Watson, meanwhile, scored twice, including the winner in game one. Watson would do a similar defensive job against Toronto, while adding a lead-tying 5 points in the finals.
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