The New York Rangers / Islanders Rivalry

The Rangers and Islanders each have 4 Stanley Cups, but their journeys as franchises to those cup rings were completely different. The Rangers won their first cup a year after they came into the NHL, in 1927. By the time the 1960s expansion took place, they’d won two more – both in the 30s – both during a time when the league was only 6 teams. Then a drought of 54 years, until 1994 when the Rangers knocked off the Vancouver Canucks in 7 games and caused a celebration across New York City, and the first of a few riots for Vancouver.

In contrast, when the New York Islanders come into the league in 1972, they do not win a cup in their second season. In a time when the league played 78 games, the Islanders won just 12 in their first year. But, by being so terrible, they were able to draft Denis Potvin first overall in ’73. This Islander lifer was an absolute unit with skill and power, who would be the Rookie of the Year, a 3-time Norris trophy winner, 7-time All Star, Hall of Famer, and all around pest for Rangers fans his entire 15 year career. Eight years after entering the NHL, the Islanders won their first of what would be 4 straight Stanley Cups, captained by Denis Potvin.

And the Islanders dominated. That last cup? Yeah, they won that with Potvin, Trottier, Nystrom, Smith, and Bossy sweeping Gretzky, Messier, Fuhr, Kurri, Anderson, Lowe, and Coffey. That Stanley Cup Finals had 11 future Hall Of Famers in it.

So basically the Islanders started off their tenure in the league getting crushed and laughed at by Rangers fans, but then the Islanders start dominating the league, winning Cups at will, and they flip the script. The ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s battles between the clubs rage on, with both clubs exchanging time in the spotlight. With the two fanbases so close, but with split allegiances, the arguments found their home amongst the stands, with chants raining down from both sides, giving way to a new layer of the rivalry.

It all started Feb 25, 1979 at Madison Square Garden. Denis Potvin and Rangers forward Ulf Nilsson were barreling towards the corner for a loose puck, and Potvin laid a huge hit on Nilsson that wound up breaking his ankle and ending his season. Rangers fans labeled Potvin enemy number 1, complaining to anyone who would listen that the play was a dirty hit. And it remained in the forefront of Rangers’ fans minds for weeks, even after Neilsson himself said it wasn’t a dirty hit. “Potvin sucks” chants begin in anger around arena.

Two months later, the teams met in the playoffs, and despite the Islanders finishing 25 points ahead of Rangers (21 clear of anyone in their division) and being the number one team in the NHL, the Rangers upset the Islanders thanks in large part to the goaltending excellence of John Davidson.

The Islanders were the victors of the era though. During the Islanders’ journey to 4 straight Cup wins, 19 straight playoff series wins, a 5-striaght finals appearances, the Islanders played and beat the Rangers in the playoffs 4 straight times. By the conclusion of the 1983 season, the Islanders now had more Cups in a row than the Rangers had in their entire franchise’s existence. The superiority in New York shifted, and the Islanders fans let them hear it. They began chanting “1940” from the Coliseum, a mocking reminder to the Rangers players of just how long it had been since they last won the Stanley Cup. It had to be tough to be with the Rangers that long as a player, constantly competitive and constantly losing to the Islanders. Rangers player Dave Maloney who played there from 74-85, when asked about the 1940s chant, had this to say in an interview with NBC.

In 1985, Faceoff Records released a song called Potvin Sucks by Bobby Nyse and the Scrotums. Potvin is aware of it, and the chant (of course), and when asked about it he usually replies with “That’s funny. I don’t hear Potvin Sucks. I hear Potvin’s Cups.”

Which brings me to 1994. Messier has now with the Rangers after 5 cups of his own with the Oilers, and with the help of such great players like Brian Leetch, Mike Richter and Adam Graves, the Rangers are able to leap to the top of the standings, capture the President’s Trophy, and get a first round playoff matchup with who? That’s right – the Islanders. This result this time? A sweep – by the Rangers. They outscored Ron Hextall and the islanders 22-3. They capture their first cup. They celebrate. A redemption chant of “1940” is heard around MSG as first Adam Graves, then his teammates, then the fans begin their swan song.

In the years since, there’s been a lot more games, chants, even another Vancouver riot. I can’t wait to hear what the fans come up with next, but one that will remain in New York for years to come will be the Potvin sucks chant. All these sound bites of the chant have been from games in the last few years, decades after Potvin has ended his career. It shows up in New York at baseball games and Phish concerts, and not just across the bridge from Manhattan to New York City, but across the pond, with stories of it busting out at Wimbledon matches of all places. Potvin sucks but this rivalry rocks.