'94 Rangers Coach On WFAN: Messier Was 'Crying In My Office' During East Finals

NEW YORK (WFAN) -- We all know about Mark Messier's guarantee in the 1994 Eastern Conference finals.

But what nobody knew -- until now -- was that the New York Rangers captain wasn't all swagger leading up to the do-or-die Game 6 in New Jersey.

"He came into my office in that series that we're talking about -- and you've already described Mark, the emotional Mark -- saying that, you know, we really want to get this done and we've really maxed out our preparation here. And, of course, then he starts crying in my office. I said, 'Mark, don't worry. We'll get it done,' " former Rangers coach Mike Keenan said on WFAN's "Boomer & Carton" show Thursday.

"Again, an emotional moment just between the captain and myself," he added. "(Messier) needed some support right there, because I think he was feeling a little bit of the pressures and the demands, the expectations. That's a story nobody's heard before."

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This year's Rangers team finds itself in an 0-1 hole after losing Wednesday's opener of the Stanley Cup finals in Los Angeles. Messier & Co. also lost Game 1 in '94, but managed to win four of the next six en route to the championship.

Keenan said the Rangers have to learn from their letdown in overtime after New York blew an early 2-0 lead to the Kings.

"They let one get away," he said.

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