Late in the third period of Game 2 of the 1997 conference finals in Philadelphia turned into late in the first game of Game 4 of the 2024 first round in Washington, even though no one quite knew it at the time.
Twenty-seven years ago, the Rangers were leading the Flyers, 5-4, with about six minutes to go on the strength of Wayne Gretzky’s second hat trick within three games — No. 99 also got one in Game 4 against the Panthers — when Brian Leetch swung behind his net only to be crushed by onrushing checker Trent Klatt.
Leetch’s right shoulder took the brunt of the hit when No. 2 went hard into the boards. It was a legal hit. Leetch did not miss any time, and the Rangers protected the lead to even the series at one apiece heading back to the Garden. But the party was over.
Leetch was noticeably impaired the rest of the way as the Blueshirts dropped the next three games. They were eliminated in five games by the Flyers, who then were swept in the Cup final by Detroit.