With the original arena opening in 1879, Madison Square Garden, the World’s Most Famous Arena, is not only an icon of New York but also in the world of sports, entertainment and other events. The New York Rangers, Knicks, Muhammad Ali, and Billy Joel are all names that echo through its history. With the Blueshirts and Knicks regular season on the horizon, here’s a brief history of some New York Rangers highlight moments at their home arena over the years.
Some Notable Historic New York Rangers Games at Madison Square Garden
1994 Stanley Cup Championship
Firstly, this championship game against the Vancouver Canucks is one of the most notable athletic events to occur at MSG. Game 7 took place in Manhattan and saw goals from Blueshirts legend Brian Leetch, who opened the scoring, and Blueshirts plus hockey legend Mark Messier. Messier also notched an assist on Leetch’s opening goal in the first period. This would mark the end of a 54-year Stanley Cup drought. Messier scored the final, cup-clinching Rangers goal in the second period, making the score 3-1 for the Blueshirts. Despite then Canuck Trevor Linden scoring in the third period to make the final score 3-2, the Blueshirts took Lord Stanley’s cup. Then Rangers captain Messier hoisted it, captaining his second team to it.
Ice-Cam: Lifting the Stanley Cup With the ’94 Rangers | New York Rangers – YouTube
1997 Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals Game Four – The Great One’s Game-Winning Hat Trick
On April 23, 1997, Wayne Gretzky notched a hat trick during Game Four of the 1997 Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals against the Florida Panthers. The Great One was the only Blueshirts scorer in this game, which took place at Madison Square Garden. All three goals were in the second period, the first being a power play goal to make the score 1-1 after the Cats had scored in the first period. The second Gretzky goal started a lead the Rangers would never lose, making the score 2-1, and then The Great One scored another unanswered goal. Then Cat David Nemirovsky scored in the third period to make the score 3-2. But the Rangers still won the game. This series would end one game later in Florida with a 3-2 overtime win for the Blueshirts, marking their fourth win in a row in that series (series final 4-1 Rangers).
The Blueshirts ended their 1997 playoff run with a 4-1 series loss to the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1997 Eastern Conference Finals.
2014 Eastern Conference Finals Game Six – A Goal to Take the Prince of Wales Trophy
More recently, in front of 18,006 fans at Madison Square Garden on May 29, 2014, then Blueshirts centreman Dominic Moore scored the one and only goal of Game Six of the Blueshirts ECF series against the Montreal Canadiens. The goal was from close range, a snap shot scored near the top left part of the right faceoff circle in the Habs defensive zone. Moore notched eight points (three goals & five assists) in 25 games during that playoffs. Accepting the trophy were then alternate captains Dan Girardi, Brad Richards and Marc Staal.
2015 Eastern Second Round Game Seven – An Overtime Game-Winner
Another playoff game with fans filling The Garden to its hockey capacity of 18,006, this Game Seven against the Washington Capitals saw an opening goal from Alex Ovechkin (“The Great 8”). Ovi scored the Caps only goal in this game close to the crease, between the two Blueshirts defensive zone faceoff circles and slightly closer to the right one. Kevin Hayes put the Rangers on the board in the second period, and the 1-1 tie sent the game to overtime, when Derek Stepan scored the overtime game-winner.
New York Rangers & Knicks Organist
Finally, “The Organ Man”, Ray Castoldi is the Madison Square Garden organist for New York Rangers and Knicks games. He first auditioned in 1989, and has played to the most sold out crowds in the arena’s history.
“They told me that I had the job but before I did that, they wanted me to play a game just to see if everything was going to work. So, I was actually going to play now with the fans in the building and the team on the court. It was crazy,”
Castoldi told Eyewitness News ABC7NY. Castoldi said it is special to do his job as part of the team and “the fabric of New York,” going through seasons with the Blueshirts and the Knicks. He is also called the “Ghost of MSG” and the “Phantom of the Garden.”
“It’s really fun. Because, you know, people hear me but they don’t necessarily know where to see me. So, I kind of like being behind the scenes but yet still being a presence in the room,”
he told Eyewitness News ABC7NY. Castoldi plays music in the arena so he can play according to the mood and energy of the crowd, content or upset. He also uses the music to motivate the Rangers or Knicks if they are not playing well.
Musical Artists Who Played Madison Square Garden
Also, aside from sports, music, of course, is a main source of MSG’s entertainment. A huge music name, Frank Sinatra, held his 1974 Main Event Concert at the Garden. In 2009, the 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concerts took place there as well. “The Piano Man” Billy Joel became MSGs first music franchise in January 2014. Joel hosts one concert a month, selling out the venue. And it only took him a year and a half, until July 2015, to play his 65th show at the arena. This broke a record for the number of performances by an artist there. Other iconic musical acts who have played the Garden include Elvis Presley, John Lennon, the Rolling Stones, Taylor Swift, and Katy Perry.
Main Photo: Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORK
