3 Rangers memories with Rod Gilbert on 45th anniversary of his No. 7 being retired

(Author’s Note: I watched Rod Gilbert almost from the beginning of his NHL career, back when the only times the NEW York Rangers were on TV was for Saturday night games — almost all of which were on the road. Over the years, he was happy to share some reminiscences of his Hall of Fame career).

New York Rangers fans may find it hard to believe that it’s been 45 years since Rod Gilbert’s No. 7 became the first number in franchise history to be raised to the rafters at Madison Square Garden. I know I do.

Rod was “Mr. Ranger.” He played his entire career in New York and was part of the “GAG Line” (Goal a Game) with longtime friend Jean Ratelle and Vic Hadfield. It’s arguably the most famous line in Rangers history. Gilbert still holds the franchise records for goals (406) and points (1,021) . After he retired early in the 1977-78 season, his number was retired on Oct. 14, 1979, and he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame three years later.

But his off-ice career lasted even longer than his time on the ice at MSG. Gilbert was a beloved fixture for the Rangers organization and its fans during 32 seasons, which included serving as the Director, Special Projects and Community Relations Representative. He was also a goodwill ambassador for Madison Square Garden and committed to the Garden of Dreams Foundation.

He was also generous with his time, something that I experienced personally over the years, both as a member of the media and the father of a Rangers-loving son, who was thrilled to have his picture taken with Rod at the Garden. He died on Aug. 22, 2021, at age 80.

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Remembering Rod Gilbert on 45th anniversary of Rangers number being retired

Here are some highlights of conversations I had with Rod Gilbert over the years about memorable moments in his career.

1962 Stanley Cup Playoffs: A star is born

Gilbert made his first mark on the Rangers as a 21-year-old injury callup in the 1962 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

“Kenny  Schinkel, who happened to be a right wing, playing with Johnny Wilson and Dave Balon, broke his toe (in Game 2 of the Semifinals against the Toronto Maple Leafs). I was an emergency callup.

“It was the third game against the Maple Leafs and the Rangers were down 2-0. We lost the first two games at Maple Leaf Gardens and then we came back here, to the old Madison Square Garden.”

(He assisted on the game-winning goal by Balon in a 5-4 victory in Game 3, but Game 4 was his coming-out party).

“The first time I got on the ice, I scored a goal. I was very excited about that – just being in New York and finally playing here was amazing, and then my first time on the ice, I scored against Johnny Bower (a future Hall of Famer). Not only that, but toward the end of the first period, I got another one. It was 2-0 Rangers, and I had both goals.

“I came into the locker room at the end of the period and Muzz Patrick was our coach and I said, ‘Can you hit me in the head so I can wake up. I think I’m dreaming about this.’ He said, ‘No, you’re here. Don’t worry. Go get another one.’ I went back out there and I did get an assist (on the game-winner by Balon). We won the game, 4-2. The fans were pretty excited – we hadn’t been in the playoffs for a while.”

(Rod told me years later that he used to kid Bower about that night).

“Sometimes I tell Johnny Bower, ‘Thank you so much for letting me score my first goal against you.’ He said, ‘Don’t worry kid. I let every kid score their first goal against me.’ I said, ‘Did you let me score the second one, too, at the end of the first period?’ and he said, ‘No, no, not that one.’ I always see him and thank him, and he just said, ‘Shut up!’ [with a smile].”

(The only bad part was that the Rangers lost the next two games and the series to the Maple Leafs, who went on to win the Stanley Cup).

“We went back to Toronto for Game 5. I recall that it was 2-2 and we went to overtime and I hit the post in the overtime. That would have made us a winner and put us ahead [in the series] 3-2. Instead, we wound up losing in double overtime; Red Kelly scored on Gump Worsley.

“The other problem was that we didn’t come back here (for Game 6), because of the circus. We played the sixth game in Toronto and got whacked, 7-1. We didn’t come back here, and I didn’t understand that. There’s a big difference playing at home and at Maple Leaf Gardens. We were good enough to beat them. Had we come back here, we win the next game, and then who knows. We could play with them. We had a good team.”

1968: Putting on a show for the home folks

One of the highlights of Gilbert’s career came on Feb. 24, 1968 , when the Montreal native scored four goals in his hometown, helping the Rangers to a rare win at the Forum. As he recounts, it nearly didn’t happen.

“I was sick as a dog the morning of that game. Friday night I had dinner with my parents and my brother and sister, I woke up with a 103-degree fever and I didn’t think I could play that night. I didn’t go to the pre-game skate; I stayed in bed. I was hot, and I called the doctor from the hotel. He gave me some antibiotics, and I went back to sleep.

“I wasn’t sure if I could play, But I went out there; I had bought 15 tickets for the game, so I had to play. I wound up getting really hot in the warmup and forgetting about the whole thing (feeling sick). I went out there and just played.

“Ratelle, Hadfield and I had our line going in high gear. I got 16 shots on goal, and I only scored four goals. I should have had maybe eight. Rogie Vachon [the Canadiens goaltender] made some incredible saves against me.

“I was banging that thing toward the net – and remember, we didn’t shoot from far out. Our line worked it in pretty close. I had a lot of chances. I also had an assist on Ratelle’s goal, so I finished the night with five points. We didn’t win often in Montreal, so to win 6-1 and score four goals, that was a pretty big night.”

Especially for a hometown boy.

“I had a lot of friends in Montreal – it was my home town – so it was pretty important. It was extra special.”

1970: Saving the Rangers’ season – and his own

Gilbert had scored 28, 29 and 28 goals in the three previous seasons, but he’d managed just 14 entering the 1969-70 season finale against the Detroit Red Wings at Madison Square Garden on the afternoon of April 5, 1970 . He played a big role in helping the Rangers achieve the most unlikely playoff berth in their history.

“That was an emotional game for me. I was always one of the fans’ favorites, I tried hard all the time, and that year was the same. But for some reason, I didn’t produce, compared to the years before. I had a poor season for some reason. I had some injuries, but that’s no excuse. The fans were down on me because we were in the position of not making the playoffs, basically because I didn’t produce the way I had in the past.”

(Not that one goal, 36 seconds into the game, was going to turn the boos to cheers).

“I scored the first goal, and to my great surprise they booed me. They booed my name. It was the first time that had ever happened to me in my career in New York. Wow.”

(The Rangers not only needed a win and a loss that night by the Montreal Canadiens in Chicago, they also needed to finish with more goals scored than the Canadiens – that was the first tiebreaker at the time. Leading 4-1 after one period was just the beginning. Gilbert again got his team off to a quick start, beating Roger Crozier 20 seconds into the second period. That made it 5-1 and gave the Rangers at least the possibility of passing the Canadiens. The Garden crowd, perhaps sensing that they were seeing something special, reacted a lot differently to Gilbert’s second goal).

“I scored the fifth goal, which gave us a chance [to tie the Canadiens]. So they announce my name — ‘Goal scored by Rod Gilbert’ — and I got a standing ovation. They booed me when I score the first goal and they’re cheering me when I scored the fifth one. It was wonderful. I didn’t expect that.

“And then we kept going.”

They did indeed. The 9-5 victory, combined with a 10-3 loss by the Canadiens to Chicago that night, put the Rangers into the playoffs. To Gilbert, a Montreal native, the fact that the Rangers had made the playoffs at the expense of the Canadiens made it a little bit more special.

“It was quite a celebration. A memorable, memorable game because I’m from Montreal, and to knock those [guys] out — it had been 20-25 years since they’d missed the playoffs.

“We weren’t particularly fond of the Canadiens. We never won too many games against them, so we said, ‘Maybe this is the time we put them out of their misery.’ And Chicago did. It was amazing — that feeling that Montreal didn’t make it.”

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