Twenty years ago today, the Islander’s David Volek scored an overtime goal in game 7 against Mario
Lemieux’s heavily favored Pittsburgh Penguins.
It was the last time the Islanders won a playoff series. This past weekend, that nearly changed. The Islanders played a tough and entertaining series and gave
Sidney Crosby’s heavily favored Penguins all that they could handle – almost. This time, the Penguins provided the
overtime drama, winning the series in six games and leaving Islander fans to wonder
what could have been. But this exciting
series managed to wake up the echos of the doomed Nassau Coliseum and and stir up a lot of great memories.
Here are the 20 biggest goals in New York Islander
history:
20. Ed Westfall, October 7, 1972 - Beginnings
Eddie Westfall scores the first
goal in Islander history in a 3-2 loss to the Atlanta Flames.
19. John Tavares, October 3, 2009 - First Goal
OK, maybe it’s too soon to include
this one, but I have a feeling that John Tavares first NHL goal may one day be remembered
by hockey fans as a historic occasion.
18. Brian Trottier, April 18, 1982 – OT vs. the Rangers
The Islanders and Rangers were
tied at one game apiece in the Division Finals versus the Rangers. In overtime, Bryan Trottier beat Eddie Mio
at an impossible angle to win game 3. The Islanders went on to win the series and
sweep the next two to capture their 3rd Stanley Cup.
17. Denis Potvin, October 27, 1973 – Ranger Killer
Rookie Denis Potvin scores his
first NHL goal as the Islanders beat the Rangers for the first time, 3-2. The rivalry was on.
16. Pierre Turgeon, April 2, 1993 - 50th at the Garden
With a playoff berth hanging in
the balance, the Islanders beat the Rangers in overtime at MSG when Pierre Turgeon scored his 50th goal of the season. This was the beginning of the magical playoff
run of 1993.
15. Bob Bourne, April
17, 1980 – Brawling and Winning
Islander fans remember game 2 of
the Playoff series against the Bruins because of the fights between Clark Gillies and Terry O’Reilly and a bench clearing brawl that toughened the
Islanders on the way to their first Stanley Cup win. This classic game was won in overtime on a
slap shot by Bob Bourne.
14. Jude Druin, May 7, 1975 – Backs to the Wall
In 1975, the Islanders, playing in
the playoffs for the first time in team history, faced elimination 9 times over
three playoff rounds. After coming back
from a 3-0 deficit to beat Pittsburgh, they dropped the first 3 games to the
Flyers before winning game 4 on a dramatic goal by Jude Drouin. They won 2 more games before losing to the Flyers
in game 7.
13. Denis Potvin, May 13, 1980 - First Blood
It’s easy to forget that when the
Islanders first played in the Stanley Cup finals, they were the underdog against
the Flyers. That changed when the Isles won the first game in overtime on a goal by Denis Potvin.
12. Shawn Bates, April 28, 2002 – Penalty Shot!
When Shawn Bates won game 4 against in Toronto on this penalty shot, he might have provided the most exciting moment
in Nassau Coliseum in the last 20 years (not counting Bruce Springsteen
concerts).
11. Ray Ferraro, April 24, 1993 – Overtime Encore
In the thrilling 1993 first round
playoff series against Washington, the Islanders won three straight games in
overtime. Ray Ferraro had 2 of the
game-winners, including a double-overtime goal to capture game 4.
10. Mike Bossy, May 13, 1982 - Unstoppable
The greatest scorer in Islander
history, Bossy scored 85 goals in the Stanley Cup playoffs – none finer than
this acrobatic goal against the Canucks in the 1982 Stanley Cup finals.
9. Ed Westfall, April
26, 1975 – Completing the Comeback
With 5:18 left in regulation, Westfall scores against Pittsburgh to win the playoff series in game seven, after
trailing 3 games to none.
8. John Tonelli, February 29, 1982 – 15 in a row
John Tonelli beats Chico Resch of
the Rockies with 47 seconds left to give the Islanders 15 straight wins, an NHL
record.
7. Ken Morrow, April
10, 1984 - Drive for Five
Playoff overtime tends to produce unlikely heroes. In 1984, it was defenseman Ken Morrow who scored the game winner in the deciding game 5 against the
Rangers.
6. Mike Bossy, January 24, 1981 – 50 in 50
In the final 5 minutes, Bossy
scores twice to become the 2nd NHL player in history, and the first since Rocket Richard, to score 50 goals in
50 games.
5. Pat Lafontaine, April 18, 1987 – The Easter
Epic
At 1:58 a.m., Pat Lafontaine scores in the fourth overtime period against the Capitals to end the longest game 7 in NHL history.
4. David Volek, May 14, 1993 - No Threepeat for Lemieux
It was 20 years ago today…..
3. John Tonelli, April 13, 1982 - Mr. Clutch
Before last week, the Islanders
had played 3 classic series against the Penguins. There was 1993 (David Volek) and 1975
(comeback from 3-0) and in between was a classic first round match-up in 1982. In the deciding game, the
Islanders trailed Pittsburgh 2-1 with less than 3 minutes to play. John Tonelli tied the game at 2:21 and then won it in overtime.
2. J.P. Parise, April 11, 1975 – OT win against
Rangers
The upstart Islanders upset the
Rangers in their first ever playoff series on a goal 11 seconds into overtime. This was the goal that put the franchise on the map.
1. Bobby Nystrom, May 24, 1980 – 7:11
Of course. Mr. Islander was clutch – he scored 4 playoff overtime goals in his career but none bigger than the one which first brought theStanley Cup to Long Island.
Ah Brooklyn, Brooklyn take me in.
