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New York Rangers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs 1939-40

The Stanley Cup is one of the most-recognized symbols in North American sports. It is the championship trophy of the NHL, National Hockey League which is won by one of the teams that have qualified for the championship finals after playing a series of playoff matches. It is the only trophy in professional sports that has the name of the winning players, coaches, management, and club staff engraved upon it. The Cup winners keep it until the new champion is crowned.

The 1939 to 1940 season Stanley Cup match was played between the most rival teams of the New York Rangers and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Both the teams had sustained the best winning forms in that season and kept the desire to win the title at the Stanley Cup. However, the New York Rangers team proved to be more dominating and compiled the most famous and memorable victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs team.

Former Rangers’ center Frank Boucher, took over for Lester Patrick as the new coach before the 1939 season. Frank's guidance led the Rangers’ team to finish at the second position, behind Boston in the regular season. The team also defeated the Bruins in four games to two in the playoffs. The New York team’s Dave Kerr, the 1940 Vezina Trophy honoree, was exceptional as he shut out the high scoring Bruins thrice in that series. Toronto enduring its role as the bridesmaid expected the New York team in the Stanley Cup finals. New York compiled victories in the first two games at home.

The Maple Leafs won the next two games on their home ice to grab the momentum. In the fifth game, the teams went into two overtimes before Muzz Patrick of New York scored to give the Rangers a 3-2 series lead. The sixth game, too, went into overtime, and the Rangers won it cleanly. Star Bryan Hextall, who directed the NHL with 24 goals in the regular season, scored in sudden death to give the New York team its first Cup since 1933. Finally, the team had won what they had desired and had worked for.

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