The 1939–40 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 14th season. With new coach Frank Boucher the Rangers finish in 2nd place again with an impressive 27–11–10 record. In the semi-finals the Rangers beat the Boston Bruins in 6 games to advance to the 1940 Stanley Cup Finals. In the finals the Rangers won their first 2 games by scores of 2–1 and 6–2 at the Garden, before finishing the series on the road because of the circus. After dropping the first 2 games in Toronto the Rangers won a critical Game five 2–1 in overtime on Muzz Patrick's overtime goal. In Game 6 it would take overtime again as the Rangers won their 3rd Stanley Cup on Bryan Hextall's goal 2:33 into OT. Following the season the Rangers would celebrate buying out their lease at Madison Square Garden by burning the lease in the historic Stanley Cup, a move that would take on greater mystery in coming years.
Regular season
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Schedule and results
| 1 || 5 || @ Detroit Red Wings || 1 – 1 OT || 0–0–1
| 2 || 11 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 1 – 1 OT || 0–0–2
| 3 || 12 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 1–0 || 0–1–2
| 4 || 16 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–2 || 0–2–2
| 5 || 18 || @ New York Americans || 3–1 || 1–2–2
| 6 || 19 || Montreal Canadiens || 2 – 1 OT || 1–3–2
| 7 || 23 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 1 – 1 OT || 1–3–3
| 8 || 26 || @ Boston Bruins || 2 – 2 OT || 1–3–4
| 9 || 28 || Detroit Red Wings || 4–1 || 2–3–4
| 10 || 30 || @ Chicago Black Hawks || 7–2 || 3–3–4
| 11 || 2 || New York Americans || 1 – 1 OT || 3–3–5
| 12 || 10 || Boston Bruins || 3–2 || 4–3–5
| 13 || 14 || Detroit Red Wings || 2 – 2 OT || 4–3–6
| 14 || 16 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 4–2 || 5–3–6
| 15 || 17 || @ Detroit Red Wings || 0 – 0 OT || 5–3–7
| 16 || 19 || Montreal Canadiens || 5–2 || 6–3–7
| 17 || 23 || Chicago Black Hawks || 7–1 || 7–3–7
| 18 || 25 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–1 || 8–3–7
| 19 || 29 || Boston Bruins || 4–0 || 9–3–7
| 20 || 31 || New York Americans || 5–2 || 10–3–7
| 21 || 2 || @ Boston Bruins || 6–4 || 11–3–7
| 22 || 4 || @ New York Americans || 6–2 || 12–3–7
| 23 || 7 || Detroit Red Wings || 3–0 || 13–3–7
| 24 || 11 || Chicago Black Hawks || 5–3 || 14–3–7
| 25 || 13 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–1 || 15–3–7
| 26 || 14 || @ Chicago Black Hawks || 2–1 || 15–4–7
| 27 || 18 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 1–0 || 16–4–7
| 28 || 21 || Boston Bruins || 4–2 || 17–4–7
| 29 || 23 || @ New York Americans || 5–3 || 18–4–7
| 30 || 25 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3–0 || 19–4–7
| 31 || 28 || New York Americans || 4–2 || 20–4–7
| 32 || 1 || @ Detroit Red Wings || 2–0 || 20–5–7
| 33 || 4 || Montreal Canadiens || 9–0 || 21–5–7
| 34 || 6 || @ Boston Bruins || 6–2 || 21–6–7
| 35 || 8 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 2–1 || 22–6–7
| 36 || 10 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 4 – 4 OT || 22–6–8
| 37 || 11 || @ Chicago Black Hawks || 3–0 || 22–7–8
| 38 || 15 || Detroit Red Wings || 3–1 || 23–7–8
| 39 || 18 || @ Detroit Red Wings || 2–0 || 23–8–8
| 40 || 22 || @ New York Americans || 1 – 0 OT || 23–9–8
| 41 || 24 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 2–0 || 24–9–8
| 42 || 25 || Montreal Canadiens || 6–2 || 25–9–8
| 43 || 29 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–1 || 25–10–8
| 44 || 2 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 1 – 1 OT || 25–10–9
| 45 || 3 || @ Chicago Black Hawks || 2–1 || 26–10–9
| 46 || 10 || New York Americans || 4–2 || 27–10–9
| 47 || 12 || @ Boston Bruins || 2–1 || 27–11–9
| 48 || 14 || Boston Bruins || 0 – 0 OT || 27–11–10
Legend:
Playoffs
Stanley Cup Finals The final series between the Rangers and the Maple Leafs was an exciting one that went back and forth with three overtime games. The Rangers took the first two at home and the Leafs took the next two in Toronto. The circus forced the Rangers to vacate Madison Square Garden after the first two games. The Rangers would score three game-winning goals in overtime, including the Cup winner. Lynn and Murray Patrick played for the Rangers, and became the third and fourth members of the Patrick family to win the Stanley Cup. Bryan Hextall scored in overtime in the final game to give the Rangers their 3rd Stanley Cup and last until .
| 1 || March 19 || Boston Bruins || 0–4 || New York Rangers || || New York Rangers lead series 1–0
| 2 || March 21 || New York Rangers || 2–4 || Boston Bruins || || Series tied 1–1
| 3 || March 24 || New York Rangers || 3–4 || Boston Bruins || || Boston leads series 2–1
| 4 || March 26 || Boston Bruins || 0–1 || New York Rangers || || Series tied 2–2
| 5 || March 28 || New York Rangers || 1–0 || Boston Bruins || || New York Rangers lead series 3–2
| 6 || March 30 || Boston Bruins || 1–4 || New York Rangers || || New York Rangers win series 4–2
| 1 || April 2 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 1–2 || New York Rangers || OT || New York Rangers lead series 1–0
| 2 || April 3 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 2–6 || New York Rangers || || New York Rangers lead series 2–0
| 3 || April 6 || New York Rangers || 1–2 || Toronto Maple Leafs || || New York Rangers lead series 2–1
| 4 || April 9 || New York Rangers || 0–3 || Toronto Maple Leafs || || Series tied 2–2
| 5 || April 11 || New York Rangers || 2–1 || Toronto Maple Leafs || OT || New York Rangers lead series 3–2
| 6 || April 13 || New York Rangers || 3–2 || Toronto Maple Leafs || OT || New York Rangers win series 4–2
Legend:
Player statistics Skaters
Regular season Player 48 24 15 39 52 48 19 19 38 22 48 7 28 35 52 43 11 21 32 33 48 13 18 31 57 44 15 13 28 19 48 12 16 28 34 41 8 16 24 2 47 7 14 21 12 47 5 14 19 26 47 8 9 17 38 48 4 13 17 61 48 1 9 10 68 46 2 4 6 44 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0
Playoffs Player 12 3 6 9 16 12 2 7 9 18 12 2 5 7 4 12 4 3 7 11 12 2 4 6 2 12 3 2 5 6 12 3 1 4 18 12 3 1 4 6 12 1 3 4 2 12 2 2 4 4 12 3 0 3 13 12 0 3 3 12 12 0 2 2 4 12 1 0 1 21
Goaltenders Regular season Player 48 3000 27 11 10 77 1.54 8
Playoffs Player 12 770 8 4 20 1.56 3
†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Rangers. Stats reflect time with Rangers only. ‡Traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with Rangers only.
Awards and records Calder Memorial Trophy: Kilby MacDonald Vezina Trophy: Dave Kerr
References
External links Rangers on Hockey Database