NEW YORK (AP) The New York Rangers honored Hall of Fame center Jean Ratelle by retiring his No. 19.A banner with his name and number was
raised to the rafters at Madison Square Garden on Sunday night in a ceremony
before the Rangers hosted the Detroit Red WingsRatelle had 336 goals and 481
assists in 861 games over parts of 16 seasons in New York before he was traded
to Boston in November 1975 and finished his career with the Bruins in 1981. With
the Rangers
Authentic Aaron Donald Jersey , he famously centered a line with Vic Hadfield and Rod Gilbert – dubbed the GAG Line for goal a game.Ratelle received a rousing
ovation when he was announced and walked out on the red carpet on the ice, and
then again when he was called up to the podium by Gilbert.”This is incredible,”
the 77-year-old Ratelle said. ”It is an honor and privilege to see my sweater
raised up to the rafters here at Madison Square Garden.”Ratelle, inducted into
Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985, became the ninth player to have his number retired
by the Rangers, joining Ed Giacomin (1), Brian Leetch (2), Harry Howell (3),
Gilbert (7), Adam Graves (9), Andy Bathgate (9)
Aaron Donald Jersey Elite , Mark Messier (11) and Mike Richter (35).Giacomin, Leetch, Graves, Messier and Richer also attended the ceremony, while Howell and
Bathgate were represented by family members. Some of Ratelle’s former teammates
were also present, including Brad Park, Rod Seiling, Gilles Villemure, Bob
Plager and their coach, 91-year-old Emile Francis.Ratelle still ranks second on
the Rangers’ franchise goals list, third for assists and points (817)
http://www.losangelesramsteamonline.com/aaron-donald-jersey , and sixth in games played. He and Gilbert are the only players in the top three
on the team list for goals, assists and points.The GAG Line’s big season was in
1971-72 when they finished third, fourth and fifth in the league in points.
Ratelle, who suffered an ankle injury late in the season, and Hadfield became
the first two Rangers to reach 100 points. Hadfield was the first Rangers player
to score 50 goals that season, with Ratelle’s 109 points setting a franchise
record that stood until Jaromir Jagr had 123 in 2005-06.”I had the best seat in
the house,” Francis said. ”The GAG Line was the best line in Rangers history,
and Jean was one of the greatest players both on and off the ice.”Ratell was
presented with a specially inscribed commemorative watch, a framed No. 19
game-worn jersey, and a custom set of golf clubs with a white bag with the
Rangers logo on it.At the end of the ceremony, Gilbert announced the Rangers
would honor Hadfield next season and raise his No. 11 to the rafters
Authentic Todd Gurley Jersey , Hadfield got emotional and the fans gave him a big ovation.When the Rangers skated out for pregame warmups they were all
wearing No. 19 jerseys with Ratelle’s name on the back.—Follow Vin Cherwoo at
www.twitter.com/VinCherwooAP— BOSTON (AP) The Bruins didn’t seem like the team
with the most to gain until it was too late Sunday night.Roberto Luongo came off
the bench to shut down Boston in the third period, and the Florida Panthers
dashed the Bruins’ hopes of getting the top seed in the Eastern Conference
playoffs with a 4-2 win.The Bruins trailed Tampa Bay by a point heading into the
regular-season finale but couldn’t top a Panthers team that was eliminated from
postseason contention Saturday.”You would have hoped the urgency would have been
there with an opportunity to win the division,” Bruins forward David Backes
said. ”We had it in the third, but needed it right from the get go.”Boston will
host the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round beginning Thursday night. The
Leafs were 3-1 against the Bruins in the regular season.Florida starter James
Reimer left in the third with an injury, and Luongo came in and stopped eight
shots over the last 8:07.
