1940 Stanley Cup Finals

The 1940 Stanley Cup Finals was a best-of-seven series between the New York Rangers and the Toronto Maple Leafs. New York would win the series 4–2 to win their third Stanley Cup. The Rangers would not win another for 54 years, a circumstance termed the Curse of 1940.

1940 Stanley Cup Finals
123456 Total
New York Rangers 2*6102**3* 4
Toronto Maple Leafs 1*2231**2* 2
* – Denotes overtime period(s)
Location(s)New York City: Madison Square Garden (1, 2)
Toronto: Maple Leaf Gardens (3–6)
CoachesNew York: Frank Boucher
Toronto: Dick Irvin
CaptainsNew York: Art Coulter
Toronto: Red Horner
DatesApril 2–13, 1940
Series-winning goalBryan Hextall (2:07, OT)
Hall of FamersRangers:
Neil Colville (1967)
Art Coulter (1974)
Bryan Hextall (1969)
Lynn Patrick (1980)
Babe Pratt (1966)
Clint Smith (1991)
Maple Leafs:
Syl Apps (1961)
Turk Broda (1967)
Gordie Drillon (1975)
Red Horner (1965)
Sweeney Schriner (1962)
Coaches:
Frank Boucher (1958, player)
Dick Irvin (1958, player)
← 1939 Stanley Cup Finals 1941 →

Paths to the Finals

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New York defeated the Boston Bruins in a best-of-seven 4–2 to advance to the Finals. The Maple Leafs had to play two best-of three series; winning 2–0 against the Chicago Black Hawks, and 2–0 against the Detroit Red Wings to advance to the Finals.

Game summaries

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The Finals 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 to become the third and fourth members of the Patrick family to win the Stanley Cup.[1]


April 2 Toronto Maple Leafs 1–2 OT New York Rangers Madison Square Garden III Recap  
Red Heron (2) - 11:01 First period 9:09 - pp - Art Coulter (1)
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period No scoring
No scoring First overtime period 15:30 - Alf Pike (2)
Turk Broda Goalie stats Dave Kerr
April 3 Toronto Maple Leafs 2–6 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden III Recap  
Billy Taylor (1) - 5:01
Hank Goldup (4) - 6:01
First period 15:14 - Bryan Hextall
No scoring Second period 3:57 - Babe Pratt (3)
19:48 - pp - Bryan Hextall (2)
No scoring Third period 6:26 - Bryan Hextall (3)
12:21 - pp - Dutch Hiller (2)
13:09 - pp - Lynn Patrick (2)
Turk Broda Goalie stats Dave Kerr
April 6 New York Rangers 1–2 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
Phil Watson (3) - 18:19 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 10:32 - Gordie Drillon (2)
13:40 - Hank Goldup (5)
Dave Kerr Goalie stats Turk Broda
April 9 New York Rangers 0–3 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
No scoring First period 19:20 - Gus Marker (1)
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 16:03 - Wally Stanowski (1)
19:26 - Gordie Drillon (3)
Dave Kerr Goalie stats Turk Broda
April 11 New York Rangers 2–1 2OT Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
Neil Colville (1) - 12:21 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 16:55 - Syl Apps (4)
No scoring Third period No scoring
Muzz Patrick (3) - 11:43 Second overtime period No scoring
Dave Kerr Goalie stats Turk Broda
April 13 New York Rangers 3–2 OT Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
No scoring First period 6:52 - Syl Apps (5)
No scoring Second period 4:51 - Nick Metz (1)
Neil Colville (2) - 8:08
Alf Pike (3) - 10:01
Third period No scoring
Bryan Hextall (4) - 2:07 First overtime period No scoring
Dave Kerr Goalie stats Turk Broda
New York won series 4–2


Stanley Cup engraving

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The 1940 Stanley Cup was presented to Rangers captain Art Coulter by NHL President Frank Calder following the Rangers 3–2 overtime win over the Maple Leafs in game six.

The following Rangers players and staff had their names engraved on the Stanley Cup

1939–40 New York Rangers

Players

  Wingers
  Defencemen

Coaching and administrative staff

Stanley Cup engraving

a Missing from the Stanley Cup, but qualified to be on it.

  • Frank Boucher was 6th NHL rookie coach to win the Stanley Cup.
  • Lester Patrick and Frank Boucher became the first (and to this date, the only) duo to win the Stanley Cup together as players and then as a coach-managerial team, having won as players on the Rangers in 1928.[2]
  • A new ring was added to the Stanley Cup. This large ring had room to hold 7 winning Stanley Cup teams.

See also

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References and notes

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Notes

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  1. ^ "Stanley Cup Champions 1940-1949". NHL.com. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  2. ^ Branch, John (June 1, 2006). "New York Is Edmonton's Home Away From Home". The New York Times. p. D7. If the Oilers win the Stanley Cup, Lowe and MacTavish will be the second twosome in NHL history to win as teammates, and as general manager and coach. Lester Patrick was the Rangers' general manager and Frank Boucher was the coach when they won the championship in 1940. They played together when the Rangers won the Cup in 1928.

References

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Preceded by New York Rangers
Stanley Cup Champions

1940
Succeeded by