I pissed off a brigade of Rangers fans in this space a few weeks ago by detailing how Detroit's Gordie Howe beat the crap out of Blueshirts heavyweight Leapin' Lou Fontinato. A few loyalists went so far as to demand that The Maven show some respect for New York's fighting spirit by telling a story of a grand Rangers fistic triumph. To that, I say fair enough and here goes: The Title: WHEN EDDIE DRIFTED TOO FAR FROM SHORE. The Subhead: THREE MUZZ PATRICK PUNCH'S AND – O-U-T!!! The date was March 28, 1939, Game Four, Rangers-Bruins at Old Madison Square Garden. In the first period, Rangers center – also trouble-maker – Phil Watson dueled with Bruins defenseman Jack Portland. It was an uneven battle since Phiery Phil was on the Lilliputian size and Portland was a giant for that hockey time. Boston boasted the longest-running tough guy in hockey – Eddie Shore. His list of misdemeanors could extend from Boston Garden to Alcatraz. Suffice to say that Shore nearly killed Ace Bailey of Toronto in a Beantown game with a hit from behind. Stan Fischler US Hall Of Fame MSG "Shore hated Watson," said one dispatch from the scene, "and wanted to get a piece of Phil. Eddie charged into the Watson-Portland melee." Shore overlooked two things: One, Watson was Rangers defenseman Muzz Patrick's best friend. Two, Patrick once had been amateur Heavyweight Boxing Champion of Canada. Muzz broke several speed records getting to Shore and when he reached Eddie, the Bruin got to know what it felt like to be hit three times by a pile driver. BAM! BAM! BAM! One, Two, Three! On Shore's proboscis no less. Of Shore's demolished nose, Harold Parrott of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle wrote: "Edmonton Eddie emerged with a dented and bent prow." Muzz, the man who delivered the blow, was in the best position to report the facts. "I hit him three clean shots," said Patrick, "and then felt Shore's nose give way." P.S. To everyone's amazement Shore returned for the second period with his nose hold in place by a huge piece of white tape. P.S.S. The Rangers entered the game trailing 0-3 in the series. But the Blueshirts won, 2-1 and extended the tourney to a seventh game which the Bruins won in overtime for the Cup. P.S.S.S. A year later the Rangers beat Boston in a six-game semi-final and then went on to win their third Stanley Cup, beating Toronto in six games on an overtime goal by Bryan Hextall.
