You would think that the first goalie to help the Rangers win their initial Stanley Cup in 1928 would have his banner hung at Madison Square Garden, would you not? As it turned out, the answer is NO! And here's why: Joe Miller of Morrisburg, Ontario, entered the NHL season in 1927 with the New York Americans, then the Blueshirts' co-tenants and rivals at old Madison Square Garden. Miller proved to be a good goalie with a bad team and when the 1927-28 season concluded, the lowly Amerks had missed the playoffs. But not Joe. When the original Rangers goalie, Lorne Chabot, suffered a serious eye injury against the Montreal Maroons in the '28 playoffs, he was replaced by manager-coach Lester Patrick, who miraculously won the game for New York. Igor Shesterkin Has Reportedly Rejected Contract Extension Paying Him $11 Million Per Season But Patrick couldn't suit up for any more games and finally was given permission to employ none other than Joe Miller. At first the 27-year-old Miller seemed an easy mark for the Maroons – but not that easy. Come to think of it, not easy at all. In fact Miller allowed only three goals in three games including the Rangers first Cup-winner on April 14, 1928 – a 2-1 New York victory over heavily-favored Montreal. The following fall, Joe was traded to Pittsburgh, a team as awful as the Amerks although Miller excelled nevertheless, but without any playoff action. Although Joe Miller never came close to sipping Stanley's champagne again, he did his job for the Blueshirts when they needed it most. Should Joe have a banner hoisted at MSG? Well, almost a century has gone by since Miller's heroics and it looks like it won't happen, doesn't it? But we Ranger historians love the memory of Joe Miller just the same! So, instead of the banner-hanging, The Maven has this to say: YAY, JOE!
