Remember When: Vic Hadfield’s 50th goal

In this edition of “Remember When,” we turn back the clock to April 2, 1972 with Vic Hadfield’s 50th goal. Hadfield etched his name into New York Rangers history by becoming the franchise’s first player to reach the 50-goal milestone. To achieve this remarkable feat, Hadfield needed to score twice in the final game of the season—and he did so despite playing with a heavily bandaged, dislocated thumb and torn ligaments sustained in the previous game.

The Rangers faced the Montreal Canadiens at Madison Square Garden, battling to overcome a 4-1 deficit before ultimately falling 6-5. Hadfield’s contributions were pivotal, netting the Rangers’ second goal and later scoring the team’s final goal of the regular season with five minutes left in the third period.

This game served as a prelude to the playoff showdown between the Rangers and Canadiens, with New York ultimately triumphing in the series after six hard-fought games.

At the time, a 50-goal season was an achievement in its own right. Before Hadfield, only five players had reached that mark a total of eight times in NHL history. That same season, Phil Esposito and Bobby Hull also joined the exclusive 50-goal club, underscoring the elite company Hadfield kept.

It would take another 22 years before Adam Graves became the second Ranger to achieve a 50-goal campaign, further solidifying Hadfield’s milestone as a landmark moment in Rangers history.