The 1989–90 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 64th season. During the regular season, the Rangers led the Patrick Division with 85 points and qualified for the NHL playoffs. In the first round of the playoffs, the Rangers defeated the New York Islanders four games to one and earned a berth in the Patrick Division Finals. There, New York lost to the Washington Capitals in five games.
Offseason
During the offseason, Gulf+Western, owners of the Rangers, and all MSG properties since 1977, changed their name to Paramount Communications. The new name was chosen in honor of the company's leading subsidiary, the Paramount Pictures film studio.
Regular season
The Rangers finished the regular season with the most power-play opportunities (442) and the most power-play goals scored (103).
Final standings
Schedule and results
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 1 || 6 || @ Winnipeg Jets || 4–1 || 1–0–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 2 || 8 || @ Chicago Blackhawks || 5–3 || 2–0–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 3 || 11 || Calgary Flames || 5–4 || 3–0–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 4 || 13 || @ Washington Capitals || 7–4 || 3–1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 5 || 15 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–2 || 4–1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="white" | 6 || 17 || Chicago Blackhawks || 3 – 3 OT || 4–1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 7 || 19 || Hartford Whalers || 7–3 || 5–1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 8 || 21 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 3–1 || 6–1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 9 || 23 || Vancouver Canucks || 5–3 || 7–1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="white" | 10 || 25 || Edmonton Oilers || 3 – 3 OT || 7–1–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="white" | 11 || 27 || New York Islanders || 5 – 5 OT || 7–1–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 12 || 28 || @ New York Islanders || 4–1 || 8–1–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 13 || 30 || Philadelphia Flyers || 3–1 || 8–2–3 |-
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 14 || 2 || Quebec Nordiques || 6–1 || 9–2–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 15 || 4 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 3–2 || 9–3–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 16 || 6 || Detroit Red Wings || 6–1 || 10–3–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 17 || 8 || Montreal Canadiens || 3–2 || 10–4–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 18 || 12 || New York Islanders || 4–2 || 11–4–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 19 || 14 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–0 || 11–5–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 20 || 17 || @ New Jersey Devils || 5 – 4 OT || 11–6–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 21 || 18 || @ Hartford Whalers || 3–2 || 12–6–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="white" | 22 || 20 || Winnipeg Jets || 3 – 3 OT || 12–6–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 23 || 22 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 4–1 || 12–7–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 24 || 25 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 7–4 || 12–8–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 25 || 26 || Quebec Nordiques || 3–1 || 13–8–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 26 || 29 || @ Winnipeg Jets || 5–4 || 13–9–4 |-
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 27 || 1 || @ Vancouver Canucks || 4–3 || 14–9–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 28 || 2 || @ Los Angeles Kings || 6–0 || 14–10–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 29 || 6 || New Jersey Devils || 5–3 || 15–10–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="white" | 30 || 9 || @ New York Islanders || 0 – 0 OT || 15–10–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 31 || 10 || Philadelphia Flyers || 4–2 || 15–11–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 32 || 13 || St. Louis Blues || 3–1 || 15–12–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 33 || 16 || @ New York Islanders || 4–3 || 15–13–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 34 || 17 || Montreal Canadiens || 2–0 || 15–14–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="white" | 35 || 20 || Buffalo Sabres || 2 – 2 OT || 15–14–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 36 || 23 || @ Washington Capitals || 3–2 || 15–15–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="white" | 37 || 26 || New Jersey Devils || 4 – 4 OT || 15–15–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 38 || 27 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 7–4 || 15–16–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 39 || 29 || @ New Jersey Devils || 3–2 || 15–17–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 40 || 31 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–4 || 15–18–7 |-