Rangers Honor 1994 Stanley Cup Championship Team

Feb 8, 2019; New York, NY, USA; Rangers captain Mark Messier associate catains Brian Leetch and Adam Graves look on during the ceremony honoring the 1994 Stanley Cup Championship Rangers team at Madison Square Garden. Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
Photo credit USA TODAY Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — In a 45-minute pregame ceremony, Mark Messier, Brian Leetch and the players and coaches from the Rangers' 1994 Stanley Cup team were introduced. They were seated at center ice as a sellout crowd cheered the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of that championship.

To honor that club, Lundqvist wore a goaltender's mask similar to Mike Richter's with the Statue of Liberty prominently displayed on the front. Lundqvist's mask also has "1994" painted on the right side with a picture of Richter, his name and number.

Game time!! #LGR pic.twitter.com/qP7srkERxv

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 9, 2019

"Unbelievable. It's a humbling thing. What a great statement by him," Richter said before the game.

"(He) didn't have to do it. It's very classy. I was shocked. ... Coming from him, look at the career the man has put together. He's been nothing but consistent from the day he arrived. He's had just a remarkable career, so it means a lot coming from him."

The current #NYR team gives -- to the ‘94 greats as they come off the ice. pic.twitter.com/VzNL00HXgF

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 9, 2019

The Carolina Hurricanes spoiled the celebration at Madison Square Garden that honored the last Rangers team to win the Stanley Cup, blanking New York 3-0.

NOTES: For the national anthem, the Garden replayed John Amirante's version of "The Star-Spangled Banner" that he performed during the '94 Cup Final. ... The Rangers are 1-2-1 on their homestand. ... Defenseman Haydn Fleury was scratched for Carolina. Center Brett Howden and defenseman Neal Pionk were scratched by the Rangers.