Nearly 50 years later, the Rangers became the equivalent of the California Golden Seals. Wait, wait, wait. Let me explain it to you. 

When the Rangers and Bruins pulled off their historic deal on Nov. 7, 1975 — in which Brad Park and Jean Ratelle went to Boston in exchange for Phil Esposito and Carol Vadnais, in the only NHL trade ever to feature three of the league’s Greatest 100 — the Blueshirts’ next game was against the Golden Seals at their home in Oakland that very night. 

And guess what? Two days after the fact, the Bruins’ next game was also against the Golden Seals in Oakland. 

Vadnais did not join the Rangers until a week after the deal, but Esposito — who wore No. 5 in this one — scored two goals with an assist in his new team’s 7-5 defeat in California.