1991–92 New York Rangers season

The 1991–92 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 66th season. The season saw the Rangers finish in first place in the Patrick Division with a record of 50 wins, 25 losses, and 5 ties for 105 points. This was the highest points total in the league that season, netting the Rangers the Presidents' Trophy. This season marked the first time since the 1941–42 NHL season that the Rangers were the top team in the NHL. In the playoffs, they defeated their cross-river rivals, the New Jersey Devils, in seven games in the Division Semi-finals before falling to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins in six games in the Division Finals.

1991–92 New York Rangers
Presidents' Trophy winners
Patrick Division champions
Division	1st Patrick
Conference	1st Wales
1991–92 record	50–25–5
Home record	28–8–4
Road record	22–17–1
Goals for	321
Goals against	246
Team information
General manager	Neil Smith
Coach	Roger Neilson
Captain	Mark Messier
Alternate captains	Mike Gartner Brian Leetch
Arena	Madison Square Garden
Team leaders
Goals	Mike Gartner (40)
Assists	Brian Leetch (80)
Points	Mark Messier (107)
Penalty minutes	Tie Domi (246)
Plus/minus	James Patrick (+34)
Wins	John Vanbiesbrouck (27)
Goals against average	John Vanbiesbrouck (2.85)
← 1990–91 1992–93 →

The 1991–92 season was Mark Messier's first in New York, having arrived from the Edmonton Oilers via trade on October 5, 1991. He scored 35 goals and 72 assists for 107 points, winning his second Hart Memorial Trophy as the league's Most Valuable Player. Rangers defenceman Brian Leetch had a spectacular season, leading all rearguards in the NHL in scoring (22 goals and 80 assists for 102 points) and receiving the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the league's top defenceman. The Rangers, along with the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins, had five 30-goal scorers. New York was not shut out in any of their 80 regular-season games.

Pre-season

Main article: 1991 outdoor NHL game in Las Vegas

On September 27, 1991, the Rangers played the Los Angeles Kings in the first ever outdoor NHL game in Las Vegas, Nevada, at Caesars Palace. This was also the first NHL game in Las Vegas since 1968. The crowd on hand was 13,000 with the Kings beating the Rangers 5–2.

Regular season

Towards the end of the regular season, the NHL went on a 10-day strike, causing the league to shut down from April 1–April 12. The games that were originally scheduled to be played during that 10-day period were made up once the strike was over.^[1]

The Rangers had an effective penalty-killing unit, as they tied the Montreal Canadiens and the Washington Capitals for the fewest power-play goals allowed during the regular season, with just 60.^[2] The Rangers also led the NHL in penalty-killing percentage (84.81%).^[2]

Season standings

Patrick Division^[3]

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
New York Rangers	80	50	25	5	321	246	105
Washington Capitals	80	45	27	8	330	257	98
Pittsburgh Penguins	80	39	32	9	343	308	87
New Jersey Devils	80	38	31	11	289	259	87
New York Islanders	80	34	35	11	291	299	79
Philadelphia Flyers	80	32	37	11	252	273	75

Wales Conference^[4]

R		Div	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
1	p – New York Rangers	PAT	80	50	25	5	321	246	105
2	Washington Capitals	PAT	80	45	27	8	330	257	98
3	Montreal Canadiens	ADM	80	41	28	11	267	207	93
4	Pittsburgh Penguins	PAT	80	39	32	9	343	308	87
5	New Jersey Devils	PAT	80	38	31	11	289	259	87
6	Boston Bruins	ADM	80	36	32	12	270	275	84
7	New York Islanders	PAT	80	34	35	11	291	299	79
8	Philadelphia Flyers	PAT	80	32	37	11	252	273	75
9	Buffalo Sabres	ADM	80	31	37	12	289	299	74
10	Hartford Whalers	ADM	80	26	41	13	247	283	65
11	Quebec Nordiques	ADM	80	20	48	12	255	318	52

Divisions: ADM – Adams, PAT – Patrick

p – Clinched Presidents' Trophy
bold – Qualified for playoffs

Schedule and results

1991–92 regular season[5]
October: 9–5–0 (home: 6–2–0; road: 3–3–0) Game October Opponent Score Record 1 3 @ Boston Bruins 5 – 3 0–1–0 2 5 @ Montreal Canadiens 2 – 1 OT 1–1–0 3 7 Boston Bruins 2 – 1 OT 2–1–0 4 9 New York Islanders 5 – 3 3–1–0 5 11 @ Washington Capitals 5 – 1 3–2–0 6 12 @ Hartford Whalers 5 – 2 3–3–0 7 14 Washington Capitals 5 – 3 3–4–0 8 16 New Jersey Devils 4 – 2 4–4–0 9 19 @ Pittsburgh Penguins 5 – 4 5–4–0 10 20 Edmonton Oilers 4 – 3 5–5–0 11 23 Los Angeles Kings 7 – 2 6–5–0 12 26 @ Quebec Nordiques 5 – 3 7–5–0 13 29 Minnesota North Stars 3 – 2 8–5–0 14 31 Quebec Nordiques 5 – 4 9–5–0
November: 6–5–1 (home: 2–2–1; road: 4–3–0) Game November Opponent Score Record 15 2 @ Philadelphia Flyers 4 – 2 10–5–0 16 4 Calgary Flames 4 – 0 11–5–0 17 6 Montreal Canadiens 4 – 1 11–6–0 18 8 Toronto Maple Leafs 3 – 3 OT 11–6–1 19 11 Pittsburgh Penguins 3 – 1 12–6–1 20 13 Washington Capitals 5 – 3 12–7–1 21 16 @ New York Islanders 4 – 2 12–8–1 22 19 @ Vancouver Canucks 4 – 3 13–8–1 23 21 @ Los Angeles Kings 6 – 1 13–9–1 24 23 @ St. Louis Blues 3 – 0 14–9–1 25 27 @ Winnipeg Jets 3 – 2 14–10–1 26 29 @ Buffalo Sabres 5 – 4 OT 15–10–1
December: 10–4–0 (home: 5–1–0; road: 5–3–0) Game December Opponent Score Record 27 2 Philadelphia Flyers 4 – 2 16–10–1 28 6 @ Detroit Red Wings 6 – 5 OT 16–11–1 29 8 Boston Bruins 4 – 0 17–11–1 30 10 @ Pittsburgh Penguins 5 – 3 17–12–1 31 13 @ Washington Capitals 5 – 3 18–12–1 32 14 @ Hartford Whalers 6 – 2 19–12–1 33 16 San Jose Sharks 4 – 3 OT 20–12–1 34 18 Philadelphia Flyers 6 – 3 21–12–1 35 21 @ Pittsburgh Penguins 7 – 5 22–12–1 36 23 New Jersey Devils 3 – 0 23–12–1 37 26 @ Washington Capitals 8 – 6 24–12–1 38 28 @ New York Islanders 5 – 4 24–13–1 39 29 Pittsburgh Penguins 6 – 3 24–14–1 40 31 @ Winnipeg Jets 5 – 2 25–14–1
January: 8–3–1 (home: 3–1–0; road: 5–2–1) Game January Opponent Score Record 41 2 @ Chicago Blackhawks 4 – 3 26–14–1 42 4 @ New Jersey Devils 6 – 4 26–15–1 43 6 Winnipeg Jets 4 – 2 27–15–1 44 8 St. Louis Blues 5 – 3 27–16–1 45 11 @ Quebec Nordiques 7 – 2 28–16–1 46 12 @ Buffalo Sabres 6 – 3 28–17–1 47 14 Buffalo Sabres 6 – 2 29–17–1 48 16 Calgary Flames 6 – 4 30–17–1 49 22 @ Calgary Flames 4 – 4 OT 30–17–2 50 23 @ Edmonton Oilers 3 – 1 31–17–2 51 28 @ San Jose Sharks 4 – 2 32–17–2 52 30 @ Los Angeles Kings 4 – 1 33–17–2
February: 7–3–2 (home: 6–0–2; road: 1–3–0) Game February Opponent Score Record 53 1 @ Minnesota North Stars 2 – 1 34–17–2 54 5 Pittsburgh Penguins 4 – 3 35–17–2 55 7 @ Washington Capitals 6 – 2 35–18–2 56 9 Detroit Red Wings 5 – 5 OT 35–18–3 57 12 Vancouver Canucks 5 – 2 36–18–3 58 14 New York Islanders 9 – 2 37–18–3 59 16 @ New Jersey Devils 4 – 2 37–19–3 60 17 Vancouver Canucks 3 – 3 OT 37–19–4 61 20 @ New York Islanders 6 – 2 37–20–4 62 21 Minnesota North Stars 5 – 4 38–20–4 63 23 Philadelphia Flyers 2 – 1 OT 39–20–4 64 25 Chicago Blackhawks 4 – 1 40–20–4
March: 9–4–1 (home: 5–2–1; road: 4–2–0) Game March Opponent Score Record 65 1 Hartford Whalers 9 – 4 41–20–4 66 2 @ New Jersey Devils 7 – 1 42–20–4 67 4 New Jersey Devils 5 – 4 42–21–4 68 7 @ Philadelphia Flyers 5 – 4 42–22–4 69 9 Washington Capitals 5 – 2 42–23–4 70 11 Chicago Blackhawks 7 – 1 43–23–4 71 14 @ St. Louis Blues 6 – 0 44–23–4 72 16 Montreal Canadiens 4 – 1 45–23–4 73 18 New York Islanders 1 – 1 OT 45–23–5 74 20 @ Detroit Red Wings 4 – 2 46–23–5 75 22 New Jersey Devils 6 – 3 47–23–5 76 24 @ Philadelphia Flyers 4 – 3 48–23–5 77 25 Philadelphia Flyers 4 – 1 49–23–5 78 28 @ New York Islanders 4 – 1 49–24–5
April: 1–1–0 (home: 1–0–0; road: 0–1–0) Game April Opponent Score Record 79 15 @ Toronto Maple Leafs 4 – 2 49–25–5 80 16 Pittsburgh Penguins 7 – 1 50–25–5
Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Playoffs

Main article: 1992 Stanley Cup playoffs

1992 Stanley Cup playoffs[5]
Division semifinals vs. (P4) New Jersey Devils – Rangers win 4–3 Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Attendance Series 1 April 19 New Jersey Devils 1 – 2 New York Rangers 18,200 New York Rangers lead series 1–0 2 April 21 New Jersey Devils 7 – 3 New York Rangers 18,200 Series tied 1–1 3 April 23 New York Rangers 1 – 3 New Jersey Devils 19,040 New Jersey leads series 2–1 4 April 25 New York Rangers 3 – 0 New Jersey Devils 19,040 Series tied 2–2 5 April 27 New Jersey Devils 5 – 8 New York Rangers 18,200 New York Rangers lead series 3–2 6 April 29 New York Rangers 3 – 5 New Jersey Devils 19,040 Series tied 3–3 7 May 1 New Jersey Devils 4 – 8 New York Rangers 18,200 New York Rangers win series 4–3
Division Finals vs. (P3) Pittsburgh Penguins – Penguins win 4–2 Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Attendance Series 1 May 3 Pittsburgh Penguins 4 – 2 New York Rangers 17,744 Pittsburgh leads series 1–0 2 May 5 Pittsburgh Penguins 2 – 4 New York Rangers 18,200 Series tied 1–1 3 May 7 New York Rangers 6 – 5 Pittsburgh Penguins OT 16,164 New York Rangers lead series 2–1 4 May 9 New York Rangers 4 – 5 Pittsburgh Penguins OT 16,164 Series tied 2–2 5 May 11 Pittsburgh Penguins 3 – 2 New York Rangers 18,200 Pittsburgh leads series 3–2 6 May 13 New York Rangers 1 – 5 Pittsburgh Penguins 16,164 Pittsburgh wins series 4–2
Legend:   Win   Loss

Player statistics

Skaters

Regular Season Player GP G A Pts +/- PIM Mark Messier 79 35 72 107 31 76 Brian Leetch 80 22 80 102 25 26 Mike Gartner 76 40 41 81 11 55 James Patrick 80 14 57 71 34 54 Tony Amonte 79 35 34 69 12 55 Adam Graves 80 26 33 59 19 139 Sergei Nemchinov 73 30 28 58 19 15 Darren Turcotte 71 30 23 53 11 57 John Ogrodnick 55 17 13 30 6 22 Doug Weight 53 8 22 30 -3 23 Paul Broten 74 13 15 28 14 102 Kris King 79 10 9 19 13 224 Par Djoos 50 1 18 19 7 40 Tim Kerr 32 7 11 18 -5 12 Jan Erixon 46 8 9 17 13 4 Joe Cirella 67 3 12 15 11 121 Randy Gilhen† 40 7 7 14 5 14 Joey Kocur 51 7 4 11 -4 121 Jeff Beukeboom† 56 1 10 11 19 122 Randy Moller‡ 43 2 7 9 -15 78 Mark Hardy 52 1 8 9 33 65 Tie Domi 42 2 4 6 -4 246 Corey Millen‡ 11 1 4 5 -1 10 Rob Zamuner 9 1 2 3 0 2 Normand Rochefort 26 0 2 2 -10 31 Rick Bennett 3 0 1 1 0 2 Jeff Bloemberg 3 0 1 1 1 0 David Shaw‡ 10 0 1 1 1 15 Peter Fiorentino 1 0 0 0 0 0 Bernie Nicholls‡ 1 0 0 0 -1 0 Jody Hull 3 0 0 0 -4 2 Mark Janssens‡ 4 0 0 0 -1 5 Jay Wells† 11 0 0 0 2 24

Playoffs Player GP G A Pts PIM Mike Gartner 13 8 8 16 4 Brian Leetch 13 4 11 15 4 Mark Messier 11 7 7 14 6 Tony Amonte 13 3 6 9 2 Adam Graves 10 5 3 8 22 James Patrick 13 0 7 7 12 Jeff Beukeboom 13 2 3 5 47 Jan Erixon 13 2 3 5 2 Kris King 13 4 1 5 14 Sergei Nemchinov 13 1 4 5 8 Joe Cirella 13 0 4 4 23 Doug Weight 7 2 2 4 0 Darren Turcotte 8 4 0 4 6 Mark Hardy 13 0 3 3 31 Randy Gilhen 13 1 2 3 2 Paul Broten 13 1 2 3 10 Jay Wells 13 0 2 2 10 Tie Domi 6 1 1 2 32 Joe Kocur 12 1 1 2 38 Tim Kerr 8 1 0 1 0 John Ogrodnick 3 0 0 0 0

Goaltenders

Regular Season

Player	GP	TOI	W	L	T	GA	GAA	SA	SV%	SO
John Vanbiesbrouck	45	2526	27	13	3	120	2.85	1331	.910	2
Mike Richter	41	2298	23	12	2	119	3.11	1205	.901	3

Playoffs

Player	GP	TOI	W	L	GA	GAA	SA	SV%	SO
Mike Richter	7	412	4	2	24	3.50	226	.894	1
John Vanbiesbrouck	7	368	2	5	23	3.75	179	.872	0

^†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.

^[6]

Note:

Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals

Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

Awards and records

• Presidents' Trophy: New York Rangers
• Hart Memorial Trophy: Mark Messier
• James Norris Memorial Trophy: Brian Leetch
• Lester B. Pearson Award: Mark Messier
• Most assists, season – Brian Leetch (1991–92) – 80
• Most points by defenseman, season – Brian Leetch (1991–92) – 102

Transactions

Trades

October 4, 1991	To Edmonton Oilers Bernie Nicholls Steven Rice Louie DeBrusk	To New York Rangers Mark Messier

Draft picks

New York's picks at the 1991 NHL entry draft in Buffalo, New York at the Memorial Auditorium.

Round	#	Player	Position	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	15	Alexei Kovalev	RW	Soviet Union	Dynamo Moscow (Russia)
2	37	Darcy Werenka	D	Canada	Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)
5	96	Corey Machanic	D	United States	University of Vermont (ECAC)
6	125	Fredrik Jax	RW	Sweden	Leksands IF (Elitserien)
6	128	Barry Young	D	United Kingdom	Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
7	147	John Rushin	C	United States	Edina Kennedy High School (USHS-MN)
8	169	Corey Hirsch	G	Canada	Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
9	191	Vyacheslav Uvayev	D	Soviet Union	Spartak Moscow (Russia)
10	213	Jamie Ram	G	Canada	Michigan Technological University (WCHA)
11	235	Vitali Chinakhov	C	Soviet Union	Torpedo Yaroslavl (Russia)
12	257	Brian Wiseman	C	Canada	University of Michigan (CCHA)

Supplemental Draft

New York's picks at the 1991 NHL supplemental draft.

Player	Position	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
Steven King	RW	United States	Brown University (ECAC)