FIVE YEARS AGO: April 12, 1994

Joby Messier appears wearing sweater No. 8. Despite a picture from that game appearing in the 94-95 media guide, and despite a letter in 1997 from an enterprising uniform number geek from the Bronx informing Rangers Media Relations of the oversight, no one has yet gotten the message to list that number next to Joby Mess's name in subsequent Rangers all-time registers in the media guide. You can't put it by us, though. For the second straight day, plug alert:

Cumulative (since 1985-86) Rangers Roster.

Meanwhile, the Rangers win 3-2 over Buffalo. Joby Mess does not figure, but Brian Noonan gets another game-winning goal. The Rangers set another team record with their 111th point of the season, breaking a team record of 109 (though they already had it on tiebreakers) set in both 1970-71 and 1971-72 (of course, this is Game 83 of an 84-game schedule).

Adam Graves finally scores his 52nd (and final) goal of the season. It's a team record that, proverbially, still stands.

Meanwhile, Florida's 5-2 loss to Quebec sets up for the Islanders the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. A win April 13 will finish the job for the Long Island boys.

Mike (Jeez, you think they'll do it?) Fornabaio -- mef17@oocities.com

Click here for the next date -- April 13 -- or, click here to return to the 5YA index