Potvin etched his place in Islanders-Rangers history on Feb. 25, 1979, when he hit promising Rangers rookie Ulf Nilsson at Madison Square Garden near the end boards. Nilsson's skate got caught in a crevice of the ice, he broke his ankle from the check, and left the ice. He was never the same player after that.
Every time Potvin touched the puck that game, Rangers fans yelled something that sounded like "Potvin socks," and they never stopped. In fact, the chant can still be heard several times during any Rangers home game, whether they are playing the Islanders or not.
Now, in addition to allowing Rangers fans to vent their frustration, the chant will help do some good with 10 percent of the proceeds from the socks going to the Islanders Children's Foundation.