Because of advances in technology and technique, Rangers fans have been able to enjoy games on MSG Networks' telecasts as if you're virtually at the games.
But it wasn't that way for a fan in the old days; which would be as far bacj as 1945 when I started listening to WHN (1050 on the dial) and the Rangers play-by-play-color team of Bert Lee and Ward Wilson.
There was no TV in that Original Six era which meant that we got our Rangers news via any one of seven New York newspapers – and WHN Radio.
If you were to hear Bert Lee do a game today, your first reaction would be "That ain't Sam Rosen." And, if you were waiting for "IT'S A POWER PLAY GOAL, not a chance.
Like Foster Hewitt, father of Canadian hockey play-by-play, Lee was inventing the New York hockey style as he went along. Never, ever did I hear him shout, HE SHOOTS, HE SCORES! Bert did it his way.
When a Ranger scored, Bert's decibel count soared and the result was "IT'S A GOAL!" Then he'd tell us whether it was Edgar Laprade, Tony Leswick or Knobby Warwick or whoever.
Heaven help us if the opposition scored. You'd have thought you'd gone deaf. Lee was borderline inaudible when the Visitors lit the light.
Some of Bert's expressions were priceless. If Edgar hit the goal post, Lee would shout, "LAPRADE MISSED BY INCHES ONLY!" And if the Garden was filled, he'd proudly report: "IT'S A CAPACITY CROWD, THEY'RE STANDING ON EVERY SHELF!
The Night The Maven Did Rangers Play By Play On Radio
Like Steve Albert, author of "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Broadcast Booth," I, too, wanted to be a play-by-play announcer.
If the Rangers were behind, no problem, he'd turn to his partner and say, "TIME ENOUGH FOR ONE GOAL, WARD, TIME ENOUGH FOR TWENTY.
Ward Wilson, who eventually took over play-by-play from Lee, was a hockey journalistic pioneer. After every game, win or lose, he'd be in the Blueshirt clubhouse doing player interviews. It was a novelty then and standard now.
Guess what? I miss them!