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Published on:

28th Dec 2025

Rangers 1994 Eastern Conference Run: Kevin Lowe & Steve Larmer Tell All

Steve Larmer and Kevin Lowe join Neil and Vic to relive the Rangers' dominant start to the 1994 playoffs. From back-to-back 6-0 shutouts sweeping the Islanders to conquering the problematic Capitals in five games, this episode reveals how championship experience kept the team focused. Hear about the "1940" chants at Nassau Coliseum, Esa Tikkanen's legendary kiss to Keith Jones, Mike Richter's redemption after the Kevin Hatcher goal, and why winning quickly mattered for an older team. The Rangers went 8-1 through two rounds—this is how they made it look easy when it wasn't.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] - Welcome to Episode 2: Quick Path to Eastern Conference Final, first two playoff rounds

[02:00] - Steve Larmer and Kevin Lowe join Neil to discuss Islanders and Capitals series

[03:00] - Neil's perspective: NY media wanting Rangers to fail, keeping the 54-year drought narrative alive

[04:00] - Kevin Lowe's first Nassau Coliseum game: "What the heck is 1940?" - learning about the curse

[06:00] - Steve Larmer on Norris Division wars: Chicago battles with Detroit, St. Louis, Toronto, Minnesota prepared him

[07:00] - Game 1 vs Islanders: complete 6-0 thrashing, not even close from the opening faceoff

[08:00] - Game 2: Richter's 13 saves in first 10 minutes, stonewalling Islanders' comeback attempt, another 6-0 win

[09:00] - Kevin Lowe on playing in front of Richter: "Never heard two goalies talk more" with Healy

[10:00] - Championship goaltending culture: "Never anybody else's fault" - taking responsibility over finger-pointing

[11:00] - Walking out of Nassau after sweep: Islander fans yelling "You're too old! You won't get anywhere!"

[12:00] - Steve Larmer on zero finger-pointing: calmness from Oilers champions keeping room level-headed

[13:00] - Kevin's 1986 Vancouver lesson: "Something didn't feel right, it was too easy" - staying on guard

[15:00] - Neil's perspective: 8-1 through two rounds, but only thinking "we" not celebrating personal accomplishment

[17:00] - Special teams dominance: 6-for-21 power play, 15-for-15 penalty kill through first three games

[18:00] - Game 4 vs Islanders: spotting them 2-0 lead, Messier breakaway exclamation point finishing sweep

[19:00] - Steve on being surrounded by Cup winners: warmth and welcoming from Oilers group teaching him

[21:00] - Neil's philosophy: acquiring winners who know how to handle playoff pressure and keep team calm

[23:00] - The Oiler collection strategy: Mark, Kevin, Mac T, Anderson, Tikk - loading up with championship DNA

[25:00] - Championship experience value: keeping Brian Leetch and others from panicking when adversity hit

[26:00] - Kevin on Mike Keenan: never practicing penalty kill once all season, talking in meetings, #1 in both

[27:00] - Mark Messier overruling Keenan: "Are you crazy?" when Mike wanted to go somewhere else before Game 7

[28:00] - Steve on keeping routines normal: trusting veterans to handle themselves, see families, stay balanced

[29:00] - Neil's double-edged sword: President's Trophy great until you lose, then it becomes ammunition against you

[30:00] - The depth advantage: Gilberts, Lidster, Wells - trust in third and fourth lines, not wearing out top six

[31:00] - Kevin on sweeping Islanders importance: 34-35 years old, needed rest and regeneration for long run

[34:00] - Washington Capitals history: problematic opponent since 1974, defeating Rangers in 1990 and 1991

[35:00] - Neil's staged anger in 1991: protecting Roger Nielsen, sending organizational message about first-round losses

[36:00] - That 1991 loss spurring everything: signing Graves, trading for Messier, changing from losing to winning culture

[37:00] - Seven days off between series: concerns about rust vs benefits of rest for older team

[39:00] - Kevin on Capitals series: more leery of them than Devils at that point, history of playoff success

[41:00] - Esa Tikkanen becoming focal point: game-winning goal on delayed penalty, three-nothing control in Game 3

[42:00] - The famous Keith Jones kiss: Kevin's story of Tikk hitting on owner's daughter on playoff flight

[43:00] - Steve on Tikkanen: could play every position except goalie, speaking five languages fluently but none well

[44:00] - Kevin on 1991 Calgary series: Tikk's hat trick in Game 7 including OT winner against Mike Vernon

[45:00] - Neil hating Tikk before trading for him: agitator who was also skilled, pissing you off while scoring

[47:00] - Seven straight playoff wins: whispers of 16-0 sweep starting to circulate in NY media

[48:00] - Kevin Hatcher 150-foot goal: bouncing past Richter, shades of Ron Francis goal from 1992

[49:00] - Neil's Mike Keenan story: "Are the pucks frozen here?" - first words after winning series instead of congratulations

[51:00] - Steve's perspective on fluke goals: "Nothing really surprises you, put your work boots back on"

[52:00] - Brian Leetch late third period winner: under 4 minutes left, Richter huge save on Hatcher with 13 seconds

[54:00] - Quick series importance: older team needing rest and juice for longer run ahead

[56:00] - Steve on first-round upsets: toughest round for favorites, getting through unscathed with energy preserved

[58:00] - Setting table for Devils series: 6-0 against them in regular season, second-best record in NHL

[59:00] - Neil's reality check: all division rivals (Islanders, Caps, Devils), can't lose to these teams or get killed

X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound

Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil

Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/

NHL Wraparound Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/

#NHLWraparound #NYRangers #NewYorkRangers #1994StanleyCup #SteveLarmer #KevinLowe #NeilSmith #MarkMessier #MikeRichter #BrianLeetch #NYIslanders #WashingtonCapitals #EsaTikkanen #PresidentsTrophy #KeithJones #KevinHatcher #GlennHealy #CraigMacTavish #AdamGraves #SergeiZubov #NassauColiseum #MadisonSquareGarden #1940Curse #PatrickDivision #RonHextall #DonBeaupre #PlayoffHockey #OilerConnection #ChampionshipDNA #1994Forever #RangersHistory #PlayoffSweep #EasternConference




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About the Podcast

NHL Wraparound Podcast
Neil Smith & Vic Morren
Breadth and depth.
Contemporary and historical.
Straight-forward and experienced.
The NHL Wraparound podcast features Neil Smith, President-General Manager of the 1994 Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers and longtime ESPN/NHL veteran Vic Morren sharing no-nonsense opinions on news and issues around the National Hockey League.

Bringing decades of experience from their respective fields, Smith and Morren create a unique partnership that examines the NHL from multiple perspectives. Additionally, as hockey historians, the pair can delve into any topic in today’s game and enlighten the audience with connections to events from previous years. To truly appreciate where hockey stands today, one needs to understand its past.

With 2024 marking the 30th anniversary of the Rangers last championship season, a special five-part series is planned to commemorate that magical run. Expect fascinating behind-the-scenes stories and special guests with particular focus on the GM who pushed all of his chips into the middle of the table amidst the most pressurized environments – and came out on top.

Whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned fan, each episode of NHL Wraparound will leave you entertained and informed.


Bio’s
Neil S. Smith, highly regarded NHL executive, served as the President and General Manager of the 1994 Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers. During his eleven years with the team, they achieved significant success, including three division titles, two Presidents’ Trophies, one Eastern Conference Championship, and a historic Stanley Cup victory—the franchise’s first in 54 years.

Known for his expertise in professional sports franchise economics, Smith played a pivotal role in management decisions under four different Rangers owners.. His tenure saw iconic trades and acquisitions, including Hall of Famers Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky, as well as successful drafts and free-agent signings.

Starting as a pro scout, Smith's career highlights include the impactful 1989 draft for the Detroit Red Wings and bold trades that shaped NHL history. He briefly served as GM for the New York Islanders in 2006, later working as a consultant for the Dallas Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

A Toronto native, Smith's hockey journey began in junior leagues before a distinguished college career at Western Michigan University. He has received numerous awards and distinctions, including induction into the University's Sports Hall of Fame in 1991.

Vic Morren: Born in New York City close to the Old Madison Square Garden, Vic Morren has had hockey in his blood his entire life as a fan, player and television production manager.

A graduate of William Paterson University, Morren skated for three seasons with the Pioneers hockey club and became the first statistical analyst to apply his craft to telecasts working New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils games from 1984-87. He co-authored two NHL-based statistics books within that span before moving to ESPN in 1987 and working the final season of the original deal the network had with the NHL.
After departing in 1990, Morren worked as a studio producer for SportsChannel America’s NHL coverage and the 1992 Barcelona Olympics before returning to ESPN that fall where he worked all 12 seasons on the second ESPN/NHL deal and the first season of the most recent contract in 2021-22. Morren has also earned a Sports Emmy for his work on Sunday Night Football coverage in 2003.

His relationship with Neil Smith dates back 33 years through their mutual friendship with the late ESPN/ABC commentator John Saunders. Morren looks forward to NHL Wraparound and collaborating with Smith with the goal to provide an experience of contemporary viewpoints, historical spin and an overall enriching podcast experience.