Customer Reviews

The Rangers: Brian McFarlane (Brian McFarlane Original Six)

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If you're a fan of hockey, from the original six to the 1990s, this is a book to read. Anecdotes abound courtesy of Mr. Mcfarlane, from the night 44 year old coach Lester Patrick stepped in as goaltender during a playoff series in 1928, to the night Eddie Giacomin returned to the Garden in a Red Wing uniform, to Phil Esposito's haphazzard management, to the Cup in 1994...Mr. Mcfarlane's Original Six series is exactly what hockey is about. Only an Islander fan would hate this book, and that's exactly how it should be...For real hockey fans, it's sure to to be enjoyed, and reread several times...

Although this is a pretty solid book of anecdotes on the NY Rangers, somehow the GAG (Goal-A-Game) Line gets nary a mention despite a piece each on Jean Ratelle and Rod Gilbert. How could Brian MacFarlane not tell the full story of the third member of that line, Vic Hadfield, and his tossing Bernie Parent's mask into the stands during a playoff game at the Garden. That tale warrants a short mention in the appendix only.

There are a few bad editing errors as Ranger great Ching Johnson is referred to as Ching "Johnston" throughout the book bar the appendix. There is a photo of Ratelle in a game vs. Buffalo but the caption refers to Dale Rolfe's pounding by Flyer Dave Schultz in the '74 playoffs. That same page features a photo of Brad Park but when he was with the B's (Ranger fans should be outraged at that, shouldn't they?). Ditto the photo of goalie Lorne Chabot who is seen wearing a Leaf jersey. Was the publisher prevented from accessing NY papers' or the Rangers' own photo archives so had to rely on other sources?

Overall the book's pretty much like the Rangers' history, a few moments of brilliance in an otherwise memorable run of near misses.

I REALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK CONCERNING A VERY NICE LOOK AT SOME OF THE PLAYERS AND HISTORY OF THE NY RANGERS. BRIAN MCFARLANE DOES IT AGAIN AS HE HAS IN ALL OF HIS ORIGINAL SIX BOOKS. THIS TIME HE TAKES US THRU A BRIEF BUT DETAILED LOOK AT MANY OF THE RANGER PLAYERS AND COACHES. FROM THE COOK BROTHERS, EMILE FRANCIS, GILBERT, RATELLE TO MESSIER AND GRETZKY. BUT TO ME THE REAL HIGHLIGHT WAS FINALLY WINNING THE CUP IN 1994. I REALLY ENJOYED THIS EASY READING AND ENTERTAINING BOOK. RECOMMENDED FOR ALL HOCKEY FANS.