Rangers Come Back to Tie Canadiens at MSG

Feb. 21, 1965 - Rookie Doug Robinson’s deflected goal with only one second to play tonight gave the unpredictable Rangers a dramatic 2-2 tie with the Canadiens before a sellout throng of 15,925 at Madison Square Garden. It came on a yank-the-goalie gamble, and the deadlock robbed the Canadiens of a valuable point in their first-place battle with Chicago. They now trail the Hawks by three points with two games in hand.

After an easy 6-2 victory over Boston last night, the Habs appeared en route to a weekend “double” when they took a 2-0 lead in the second period. But they made the mistake of giving the puck away too often in the final frame as the Blueshirts refused to quit.

Former Canadien Don Marshall started the New York rally in the 12th minute of the finale when he rapped a high shot past Charlie Hodge after a pass from Vic Hadfield. It was Don’s 15th of the campaign and his second against Montreal.

That seemed like the Rangers last chance after Hodge made a phenomenal save on Earl Ingarfield, and Ranger goalie Marcel Paille had to step lively against dangerous shots from Ralph Backstrom and Claude Larose. 

After Paille was taken out, Jacques Laperriere had to make a diving check to keep Bob Nevin from getting a clear shot from right hang, but the Habs couldn’t clear the puck.

Marshall started the score-tying play on a pass to Rod Seiling, just inside the Montreal blueline. With plenty of time to shoot, he drilled a high one, and Robinson got his stick on the puck to deflect it over Hodge. 

“I knew this was my last shot, and I wanted to make it a good one,” said Seiling. “I had time to take a couple of steps before letting it go.”

Robinson, who has scored three goals since joining New York in the trade from Chicago, wasn’t sure just how he got the puck past Hodge.

“I think it went off the post,” said Robinson. “Hodge was going down and didn’t have much of a chance.”

The two Montreal goals were scored by John Ferguson and Henri Richard.

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