The end of the third period of Game 2 of the 1997 Conference Finals in Philadelphia was the same as the end of the third period of Game 2 of the 2024 First Round in Washington, even though no one knew it at the time. That changed towards the end of the game.
27 years ago, with the Rangers leading the Flyers 5-4, Wayne Gretzky scored his second hat trick in less than three games and with six minutes left in the game, his No. 99 jersey He also had a hat trick in Game 4 against the Panthers. Brian Leitch swung into the back of the net, but was crushed by the charging checker Trent Klatt.
When No. 2 hit the boards hard, Leach's right shoulder took the brunt of the blow. It was a legit hit. Leach never made a mistake and the Rangers held the lead, both times returning to the Garden in the same series. But the party is over.
Leach was noticeably out of form the rest of the way, as the Blueshirts lost their next three games. They lost in five games to the Flyers and were swept by Detroit in the Cup Final.
