In the annals of Detroit Red Wings history, not many players would list their first game with the team as being the one providing their most memorable moment wearing the Winged Wheel.

In Ed Giacomin’s case, though, that was absolutely the truth. Giacomin, who died Monday at the age of 86, played 71 games for the Red Wings from 1975 to 1978. None could ever measure up to the moments he experienced in his first one.

Giacomin may have made the most memorable Red Wings debut of them all.

Rest In Peace, Eddie Giacomin.

One of the most beloved Rangers of all-time, and one of the best (and toughest!) goaltenders in the history of the game.

Here’s Eddie on his return to New York in a Detroit jersey and his special bond with Rangers fans:
pic.twitter.com/TFcZCdfcA9

— New York Foxes (@NewYorkFoxes) September 15, 2025

After a long and storied career with the New York Rangers, on October 31, 1975 – Halloween – the Rangers played an awful trick on this fan favorite. They placed Giacomin on waivers.

The Red Wings were quick to scoop up Giacomin. Two nights later, they’d give him the start in their next game – at New York’s Madison Square Garden against the Rangers.

Rangers Fans Cheered For Red Wings

Giacomin won a Vezina Trophy with the Rangers and backstopped the club to their first Stanley Cup final appearance in 22 years. Rangers fans couldn’t hide their anger over how their hero had been treated.

The chants began during the national anthem.

“Eddie, Eddie.”

As they swelled to a crescendo, Giacomin was overcome with emotion. He was wiping away tears from his eyes.

“The fans knew me better than I knew myself,” Giacomin told Hall of Fame broadcaster Sam Rosen of that night. “I didn’t think I was going to play in that game. But they were already ready, and loaded for bear for that evening.”

Ed Giacomin is a New York Ranger through and through. But he looked pretty good as a Detroit Red Wing too. pic.twitter.com/OpeOy1Namx

— The Hockey Samurai 侍 (@hockey_samurai) October 18, 2024

Rangers fans cheered Giacomin’s every save, basically turning on their own team.

“What they did is something that’s really very hard to express,” Giacomin remembered. “It gave me a memory that I know is embedded in me. I really felt that night that the love was pouring into my body from the fans. They never let up the whole game.”

Perhaps buoyed by the outpouring of emotion toward their new goalie, the Red Wings would race to a 4-0 first-period lead. With Giacomin stopping 42 shots, Detroit won 6-4.

Rangers players actually apologized to Giacomin when they scored on him.

“It must have been awfully hard for the Ranger players,” Giacomin said. “You could see it in their eyes.”