Stat Trick (plus one)

1. Rick DiPietro's career best shutout streak at the Coliseum ended at 191:04.

2. The Isles have now gone 138:12 without a goal as they have been shutout in consecutive games for the first time since November 1993. They are 40:43 shy of the all-time club record for consecutive time without scoring a goal.

3. It's the first time in Islander history that four consecutive games have ended in shutout. [Three previous times, three consecutive games have ended in shutouts.] The Isles are 2-2-0 in those games.

4. Each of the last three games have ended with a 2-0 score. It's the first time in Islander history that they have played three consecutive games in which two goals or fewer have been scored. The six goals over the three games also equals a club record for the fewest goals, both teams, in a three game stretch.

12-Oct-98 @ Boston 27 0 3 L
14-Oct-98 @ Tampa Bay 2 0 W
17-Oct-98 @ St. Louis 1 0 W

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of FSN statistician Eric Hornick.

Eric, who has worked the Stanley Cup Finals four times, will celebrate his 25th anniversary as the statistician on Islander home telecasts on January 21, 2007. Often referred to on-air as an actuary, he is one of 2,890 Fellows of the Casualty Actuarial Society and is the President-Elect of the Casualty Actuaries of Greater NY.

You can find him in the "Best Seat in the House", about six feet to Howie and Billy's left, at most Islander home games.

For more on the actuarial profession, visit www.beanactuary.org

Fw: More shutout notes

Isles recorded consecutive shutouts on March 21-23, 2004.

<<
The Islanders (and DiPietro) now have gone 138:18 without allowing a goal at all since Scott Walker scored Carolina's final goal on Friday. It's the first time since October, 1998 that the Islanders have recorded consecutive shutouts:

14-Oct-98 @ Tampa Bay 2 0 W
17-Oct-98 @ St. Louis 1 0 W

Stat Trick

1. DiPietro's shutout streak ended at a career best 156:30 (21:59 shy of Chico Resch's 30-year old revised club record of 178:29). It was his ninth straight start--the fourth time in his career he's had a streak at least that long.

2. The Isles have now lost all six games they've played with the Sens since the lockout. It's their worst losing streak ever against Ottawa [They are now 4-27-9 in their last 40 games against Ottawa --slight correction from last night's note] and it is their eleventh straight regular season loss in Canada [0-13-1 in last 14 since defeating Montreal 6-3 on March 20, 2003].

3. Isles had one power play tonight [162 on the season, fewest in the NHL] and were shorthanded five times [215 on the season, 2nd highest in Eastern Conference to Florida]. The differential of 53 extra power plays for the opposition works out to nearly 1.5 per game. The Isles and Devils have each played 36 games, and the Isles have been shorthanded a whopping 81 times more than New Jersey.

Re: More shutout notes

I confirmed with the Elias Sports Bureau this afternoon that Chico's record streak is indeed 178:29 -- DiPietro is 40:11 shy, entering play tonight.

If nothing else, this will correct an inaccuracy in the Islander media guide that has stood for 30 years!

<<
The Islanders (and DiPietro) now have gone 138:18 without allowing a goal at all since Scott Walker scored Carolina's final goal on Friday. It's the first time since October, 1998 that the Islanders have recorded consecutive shutouts:

14-Oct-98 @ Tampa Bay 2 0 W
17-Oct-98 @ St. Louis 1 0 W

The Isles are 61:26 shy of the club record for consecutive shutout time -- the record was set in April 1998 and included the Isles' last shutout of the Rangers in the famed goalie fight game.

DiPietro will have a shot tonight at one of the longest standing records in club history: Chico Resch's shutout streak of 179:29. [Di Pietro can tie this mark at 1:11 of the third period]

Resch set this mark in the 1975-76 season:

2-Dec-75 @ St. Louis 4 1 W streak started after allowing a goal to Larry Patey at 5:15 of the first period
7-Dec-75 @ Buffalo 3 0 W
9-Dec-75 Vs Minnesota 6 0 W
12-Dec-75 @ Atlanta 3 3 T streak ended on a Curt Bennett goal at 3:44 of the first period.

[This actually adds up to only 178:29 based on the boxscores in the NY Times, but it has been published by the Isles as 179:29 for the last thirty years!]
>>

More shutout notes

The Islanders now have a 185:43 shutout streak at the Coliseum -- it's the longest home streak of Rick DiPietro's career [and a club record-tying 3 consecutive home shutouts].

The Islanders are still 63:56 shy of the club record 249:39 scoreless streak at home. That streak began with the final 27:00 of a 2-1 win over Tampa Bay on February 15, 1994, and then continued through three consecutive shutouts:

19-Feb-94 Vs Ottawa 4 0 W Isles Goalie: Hextall
21-Feb-94 Vs Washington 4 0 W Isles Goalie: Hextall
25-Feb-94 Vs Philadelphia 2 0 W Isles Goalie: Hextall

The streak ended on a Chris Simon (then with Quebec) goal at 2:39 of the third period on February 27, 1994.

The Islanders (and DiPietro) now have gone 138:18 without allowing a goal at all since Scott Walker scored Carolina's final goal on Friday. It's the first time since October, 1998 that the Islanders have recorded consecutive shutouts:

14-Oct-98 @ Tampa Bay 2 0 W
17-Oct-98 @ St. Louis 1 0 W

The Isles are 61:26 shy of the club record for consecutive shutout time -- the record was set in April 1998 and included the Isles' last shutout of the Rangers in the famed goalie fight game.

DiPietro will have a shot tonight at one of the longest standing records in club history: Chico Resch's shutout streak of 179:29. [Di Pietro can tie this mark at 1:11 of the third period]

Resch set this mark in the 1975-76 season:

2-Dec-75 @ St. Louis 4 1 W streak started after allowing a goal to Larry Patey at 5:15 of the first period
7-Dec-75 @ Buffalo 3 0 W
9-Dec-75 Vs Minnesota 6 0 W
12-Dec-75 @ Atlanta 3 3 T streak ended on a Curt Bennett goal at 3:44 of the first period.

[This actually adds up to only 178:29 based on the boxscores in the NY Times, but it has been published by the Isles as 179:29 for the last thirty years!]

Boxing Day

If you have good thoughts about the Islanders and Boxing Day, you're right. Particularly when they play at the Coliseum.

The Islanders now have 8 wins, 1 loss and 2 ties in home Boxing Day games. How many did you attend?

26-Dec-78 Vs Toronto 5 1 W
26-Dec-81 Vs Philadelphia 4 2 W
26-Dec-85 Vs Hartford 3 4 L
26-Dec-87 Vs Boston 2 1 W
26-Dec-91 Vs New Jersey 5 5 T
26-Dec-92 Vs New York 6 4 W
26-Dec-93 Vs Buffalo 4 3 Wot
26-Dec-95 Vs Boston 3 3 T
26-Dec-96 Vs New Jersey 4 1 W
26-Dec-98 Vs Boston 4 2 W
26-Dec-06 Vs New York 2 0 W

The Isles are now 3-0 against the Rangers on Boxing Day, winning 2-1 in 1976 at MSG behind Howatt's GWG and 42 saves by Billy Smith, and 6-4 in 1992 at the Coliseum behind 2 Steve Thomas goals. They are 12-7-2 overall on Boxing Day..

Stat Trick: Post Ranger Letdown

Streaks will collide tonight in Ottawa. Isles have won the first 6 back-ends of back-to-backs this season (It's the first time they've won the first six back-ends in a season; the club record for consecutive wins in back-ends is 9.)

However—

1. Tthe Isles are 7 wins, 19 losses, 4 ties, and 3 ot losses in their last 33 games following a game against the Rangers. (This includes a 1-2 record in the back-end of home/homes with the Rangers).

2. In their last 12 games following a win against the Rangers, dating back to 1999, the Isles are 1-8-3, with the only win coming in the back-half of the home and home in October, 2005. The Isles haven't beaten the Rangers on one night and then beaten any opponent (other than the Rangers) the next night since 1987 [10/31/87 W 8-2 NYR; 11/1/87 W 6-5(ot) at Boston).

3. The Isles have played Ottawa in the game following the Rangers eight times in their history. They haven't won once --four losses, three ties, and an overtime loss. Overall, the Isles are 2-12-3 in their last 17 visits to the Canadian capital and are 4-29-9 (8 ties, 1 ot loss) in 42 games against the Sens since January 1996.

Stat Trick

1. The Islanders have recorded three consecutive home shutouts for the second time in their history. Rick DiPietro has been in the nets for all blanks, and has stopped 98 shots in 185:43 of consecutive shutout hockey.

19-Feb-94 Vs Ottawa 4 0 W
21-Feb-94 Vs Washington 4 0 W
25-Feb-94 Vs Philadelphia 2 0 W

(Ron Hextall was in the nets for all three games)

2. The Islanders have defeated the Rangers three times in December -- the first time that's ever happened in a single month. They are 3-0 on the season against the Blueshirts -- equalling their best ever start to a season series against the Rangers (last done in 1978-79)

3. The Islanders have defeated the Rangers four straight times, going back to last season. It's the first time since 1982, when the Isles beat the Rangers five straight times (tying the club record) that the Isles have won four consecutive games against the Rangers.

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of FSN statistician Eric Hornick.

Eric, who has worked the Stanley Cup Finals four times, will celebrate his 25th anniversary as the statistician on Islander home telecasts on January 21, 2007. Often referred to on-air as an actuary, he is one of 2,890 Fellows of the Casualty Actuarial Society and is the President-Elect of the Casualty Actuaries of Greater NY.

You can find him in the "Best Seat in the House", about six feet to Howie and Billy's left, at most Islander home games.

For more on the actuarial profession, visit www.beanactuary.org

Newsday

<<Islanders pound Blue Jackets in 4-0 win

BY GREG LOGAN
Newsday Staff Writer
December 23, 2006, 11:05 PM EST
After the Islanders' off-ice follies of summer, including management upheaval and the landmark 15-year contract awarded to goaltender Rick DiPietro, fans of a fast-fading franchise would have found it hard to believe their team would have 18 victories, 39 points and be in playoff position at the Christmas break.

But that's exactly where they are after a 4-0 victory over Columbus Saturday night at Nassau Coliseum. It was the third shutout of the season and ninth of his career for DiPietro, who made 26 saves, and it left Islanders' spirits soaring as they prepare for the season's first visit by the Rangers the day after Christmas.

No one was happier than owner Charles Wang, who made a postgame locker-room visit with senior vice-president Mike Milbury. The smiling owner expressed his pleasure with a crowd of 11,797 that included a few hundred students in the arena on $19 tickets, and he was optimistic about where this team might be headed.

"Give it a chance," Wang said. "I'm not going to say I told you so. But it's great to see the guys so fired up. We're sold out for the Rangers, and we're close to a sellout for the Devils [Dec. 30]."

For the first time in franchise history, the Islanders won for the sixth straight time on the second night of a back-to-back set. It's an obscure stat, but it says something about the resilience they have shown.

(1940 Note: it's actually the first time that they've opened a season by winning six straight times on a back-to-back. The club record is actually 9)

"We came out with a lot of urgency," DiPietro said. "This was a big one because teams in our division continue to win."
The penalties that plagued the Islanders one night earlier in Carolina, when they gave up four power-play goals in a 5-1 loss, continued against the Blue Jackets. But when the Islanders' penalty killers, including DiPietro, are as sharp as they were last night, it doesn't matter. Columbus, which went 0-for-9 on the power play, mustered only five shots on goal in its first four chances, and DiPietro withstood everything the Jackets threw at him when they got warmed up later in the second period.

DiPietro was anxious to get back in net when he left Carolina because he knew this was a big spot going to the break, and it ended with the crowd chanting, "DP! DP!"

In the postgame TV interview on the ice, an .excited DiPietro said he was looking forward to a full house against the Rangers, but he tempered his enthusiasm later when asked about the Isles' surprising progress to this point.

"We have a very competitive team, and I think guys are happy with the progress," DiPietro said. "But [Friday night in Carolina] was an indication there's a lot of work to be done."

Just in case the Islanders needed a wake-up call last night, Sergei Fedorov rang a shot off the left post less than two minutes into the game. But the rebound caromed out to Alexei Yashin near his own blue line. He fed Jason Blake in the middle, and he basically used Columbus de.fense.man Adam Foote to screen goaltender Fredrik Norrena for his 20th goal of the season.

The Islanders extended their lead in the second period thanks to one great, hustling shift by the Mike Sillinger-Andy Hilbert-Trent Hunter line. All three had chances, including one by Hilbert that landed on top of the net. But they never stopped working until Hilbert made a pass out from behind the goal line, and Hunter one-timed it from the slot at 6:33.

In the third period, the Islanders put the game out of reach with a power-play goal by Sillinger and one at even strength by Viktor Kozlov. DiPietro called it the best job of protecting a third-period lead that the .Islanders have done this season. When it was over, they had .reason to celebrate with Wang.

"He was just happy about the win," DiPietro said of the owner. "He could see the guys are pouring their heart and soul into the game."
>>

Mr. Wang is wrong about tickets--pairs were available as of midnight (through Ticketmaster).

<<New York Islanders vs. New York Rangers
Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
Tue, Dec 26, 2006 07:30 PM
Your Ticket(s)
Section Row Type Ticket Price Convenience Charge Description
103 D Full Price Ticket US $120.00 US $5.50
103 D Full Price Ticket US $120.00 US $5.50

>>

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of FSN statistician Eric Hornick.

Eric, who has worked the Stanley Cup Finals four times, will celebrate his 25th anniversary as the statistician on Islander home telecasts on January 21, 2007. Often referred to on-air as an actuary, he is one of 2,890 Fellows of the Casualty Actuarial Society and is the President-Elect of the Casualty Actuaries of Greater NY.

You can find him in the "Best Seat in the House", about six feet to Howie and Billy's left, at most Islander home games.

For more on the actuarial profession, visit www.beanactuary.org

It's been a loooooooooooong time since the Isles beat the Rangers four times in a row [or beat the Rangers in each of the first three meetings of a season]

The Isles will look to go 3-0 on the season, and counting the last game of last season, will be looking for their fourth straight win over the Rangers, when the Blueshirts visit on Tuesday.

You have to go back to the Stanley Cup era, to find the last time that the Isles beat the Rangers in four consecutive regular season games -- in 1982 they beat the Rangers in five straight games:

23-Jan-82 VsNew York 6 1 W [2nd game of the 15 game winning streak...and my second game with SportsChannel!]
6-Mar-82 Vs New York 6 4 W
29-Mar-82 @ New York 7 3 W
11-Oct-82 @ New York 4 3 W
23-Oct-82 Vs New York 5 2 W

The Isles have opened a season with three straight wins over the Rangers three times....all in the 1970's:

1975-76
1977-78
and 1978-79. They'll have a chance to equal that on Tuesday, as well.

Stat Trick

1. The Isles were short 9 times tonight -- that's 39 times over the last five games. The Isles have had only 24 pp's in those five games and have had 156 pp's on the season--fewest in the NHL.

2. The Isles have opened the season 6-0-0 on the back-end of back-to-backs for the first time in their history (they won the first five in 1978-79). It's the first time that they've won six consecutive back-ends since they won seven straight in 1981:

28-Feb-81 @ Los Angeles 2 1 W
12-Mar-81 @ Edmonton 5 0 W
29-Mar-81 @ Washington 5 4 W
5-Apr-81 @ Buffalo 7 3 W
15-Oct-81 Vs Vancouver 4 1 W
24-Oct-81 Vs Washington 6 4 W
11-Nov-81 @ Toronto 4 3 W
(The club record is 9, set in the 1977-78 and 1978-79 seasons.)

The Isles next back-end is on Wednesday in Ottawa as the Isles will try to beat the Post-Ranger letdown and can't win against Ottawa...at all... jinxes.

3. The Isles (and Rick DiPietro) have a home shutout streak of 125:43 and have recorded consecutive home shutouts for the first time since March 21-23, 2004. DiPietro has three shutouts on the season and nine on his career. He is 19:57 shy of his longest home shutout streak, set in March 2004.

...and oh yes, the Islanders finally best Columbus (but you knew that already)!

Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays to all!

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of FSN statistician Eric Hornick.

Eric, who has worked the Stanley Cup Finals four times, will celebrate his 25th anniversary as the statistician on Islander home telecasts on January 21, 2007. Often referred to on-air as an actuary, he is one of 2,890 Fellows of the Casualty Actuarial Society and is the President-Elect of the Casualty Actuaries of Greater NY.

You can find him in the "Best Seat in the House", about six feet to Howie and Billy's left, at most Islander home games.

For more on the actuarial profession, visit www.beanactuary.org

Re: Stat Trick

It's actually Lafontaine and King in that 2/6/90 game.

Thomas was on my mind from something else last night. Had Blake gotten his fourth, it would have marked the first time since the 1991-92 season that the Isles had recorded two four-goal games in the same season.

Thomas and Ray Ferraro both did so in 91-92. Two of Thomas' goals would come in the third period of an April 15, 1992 game and were the only two allowed by the relief goalie that night. He wouldn't even win the Calder Trophy until the following season. His name: Martin Brodeur. [Ferraro bagged his four against Detroit's Tim Cheveldae--Cheveldae won a legaue-leading 38 games that season.]

----- Original Message ----
From: Eric Hornick <forever1940@yahoo.com>
To: islanderfans@yahoogroups.com; IslesList <isles-list@replayer.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 20, 2006 12:10:32 AM
Subject: Stat Trick

1. The Islanders now have hat tricks in back-to-back games at MSG. They had recorded only three previous hat tricks in their history at MSG [Trottier in 1977, Bossy in 1982 and Yashin in 2002].

2. Jaromir Jagr had three points, giving him 132 against the Islanders in his career. Only Mario Lemieux (135), who was in attendance tonight, has more career points against the Isles.

3. It's the first time since the 1993-94 season that the Islanders have had two hat tricks against one opponent.
On October 23, 1993, Derek King had three goals in a 5-5 tie at the Coliseum
On November 17, 1993, Pierre Turgeon had three goals in an 8-1 win in Ottawa

3a. The last time that the Isles had two hat tricks on the road against one opponent in a single season was in the 1989-90 season.
Derek King and Ray Ferraro (not Steve Thomas) had hat tricks on February 6, 1990 in an 8-7 OT win in Pittsburgh.

3b. The last time that the Isles had hat tricks on the road against one opponent in consecutive games was in the 1985-86 season.
On November 6, 1985, Patrick Flatley had his only career 4-goal game in a 5-4 win in Toronto
On March 20, 1986, Mike Bossy had a three-goal game in a 7-1 win in Toronto

Stat Trick

1. The Islanders now have hat tricks in back-to-back games at MSG. They had recorded only three previous hat tricks in their history at MSG [Trottier in 1977, Bossy in 1982 and Yashin in 2002].

2. Jaromir Jagr had three points, giving him 132 against the Islanders in his career. Only Mario Lemieux (135), who was in attendance tonight, has more career points against the Isles.

3. It's the first time since the 1993-94 season that the Islanders have had two hat tricks against one opponent.
On October 23, 1993, Derek King had three goals in a 5-5 tie at the Coliseum
On November 17, 1993, Pierre Turgeon had three goals in an 8-1 win in Ottawa

3a. The last time that the Isles had two hat tricks on the road against one opponent in a single season was in the 1989-90 season.
Derek King and Steve Thomas had hat tricks on February 6, 1990 in an 8-7 OT win in Pittsburgh.

3b. The last time that the Isles had hat tricks on the road against one opponent in consecutive games was in the 1985-86 season.
On November 6, 1985, Patrick Flatley had his only career 4-goal game in a 5-4 win in Toronto
On March 20, 1986, Mike Bossy had a three-goal game in a 7-1 win in Toronto

Stat Trick: Ranger edition

Not a great weekend for the Islanders' next opponent, as they
were blown out 9-2 and 6-1.

It's been a long time since the Rangers have been blown out like
that in back-to-back games....

1. It's the worst back to back losses for the Blueshirts since
they were swept by the Red Wings, 8-2 and 6-0 in a home-and-home
on March 26-27 2000. (outscored by 12 goals)

The Rangers haven't lost consecutive games by more than 12 goals
in over 30 years, losing 9-1 to Buffalo and 7-1 to the Islanders
in 1975.

2. Their 6-1 loss on Sunday night was their first loss at MSG by
at least five goals since being beaten 5-0 by Calgary on March
5, 2000.

3. The Rangers last allowed 15 goals in consecutive games when
they collapsed towards the end of the 1992-93 season, losing 5-2
to the Devils and 10-4 to the Penguins. It's the first time
that the Blueshirts have allowed 15 goals in a pair of
back-to-backs since they lost 8-2 to the Isles and 7-6 to the
Oilers on October 31, and November 1, 1987.

Isles +6, Rangers -7

At times last night, it seemed like the Coliseum crowd was
enjoying the Rangers score (they lost 9-2) as much as the
Islanders (6-0).

It's the 87th time in Islander history that they've won a game
by at least six goals [and the first time at home since an 8-2
drubbing of Boston in 1997].

Of those 87 wins, five have come against the Rangers (all at the
Coliseum):

25-Oct-75 New York 7 1 W
3-Apr-76 New York 10 2 W
17-Dec-83 New York 7 1 W
17-Nov-84 New York 10 4 W
31-Oct-87 New York 8 2 W

Tonight marks the first time that the Islanders have ever won a
game by at least six goals and the Rangers have lost a game to a
different opponent by at least six goals on the same day.

[Ironically, the last time that the Isles won by six goals was
in October, 2003 in Buffalo; the Rangers lost 5-0 to Columbus
that night]

TV notes

The Islanders have been one of the NHL's been kept secrets in
2006.

The secret will get out of the bag early in 2007 as the Isles'
game in Buffalo will be nationally televised by Versus. Versus
announced the addition to their schedule on Friday.

The Isles are also schedule to be on Versus twice in March -- at
MSG on March 5, and at home against the Devils on March 27th.

If you watched our FSN-New York telecast tonight you saw an old
friend joining Deb Kaufman. Jean Potvin has been added to the
Isles broadcasts and will appear with Deb during home games.

Potvin of course was an Islander radio announcer throughout the
glory years -- it's his "Yes, Yes" that is interspersed with Bob
Lawrence's radio call of Bobby Nystrom's Cup winner. Potvin
joined Barry Landers on Islander radio beginning with the 1981
playoffs -- a year in which he earned his second Stanley Cup
ring.

Stat Trick

1. The 6-0 shutout win is the Islanders' most lopsided home
shutout since Ron Hextall shut out the Kings 7-0 in 1993. It's
the first time in their history that the Islanders have won a
shutout this lopsided at home for any coach other than Al
Arbour.
It's their most lopsided win of any kind since beating Buffalo
6-0 in the second game of the Stirling era.

2. The Isles are now 5-0 on the back-end of back-to-backs.
[They're 2-3 on the front end]. It's the first time since 1981
that the Islanders have won five consecutive back end's:

28-Feb-81 @ Los Angeles 2 1 W
12-Mar-81 @ Edmonton 5 0 W
29-Mar-81 @ Washington 5 4 W
5-Apr-81 @ Buffalo 7 3 W
15-Oct-81 Vs Vancouver 4 1 W
24-Oct-81 Vs Washington 6 4 W
11-Nov-81 @ Toronto 4 3 W

(The club record is 9, set in the 1977-78 and 1978-79 seasons.

It's only the second time in club history that they've opened a
season by winning the back-end of five consecutive
back-to-backs; they also did it in the President's Trophy
campaign of 1978-79. [One unrelated trivial note -- the Isles
went 0-26-4 in the first 30 back end's of back-to-backs in their
history, before defeating Vancouver on December 29, 1973]

After Tuesday's game at the Garden, the Isles will play
consecutive sets of back-to-backs, with the back ends being
12/23 against Columbus and 12/27 in Ottawa.

3. The Isles had six different goal scorers and had 10 players
+2 or better. Jason Blake was +1 and had no points for only the
second time in the last 14 games -- he was also blanked at MSG,
when the Isles scored seven times.

Stat Trick

1. The Isles are now 3-5 in the eight games since Alexei Yashin
was injured.

2. Since taking over first place by beating the Rangers on
December 3, the Isles are 1-3 are have allowed 19 goals in that
span.

3. The Isles have allowed at least 4 goals in five straight
games for the first time in a single season since:

7-Jan-01 @ Carolina 2 5 L
9-Jan-01 Vs Chicago 3 6 L
12-Jan-01 @ Pittsburgh 3 4 L
13-Jan-01 Vs Pittsburgh 6 5 W
16-Jan-01 @ Colorado 1 4 L

(They allowed 4+ goals in the final four games last season and
the opener this season)

The last time the Isles allowed at least four goals in at least
six straight games was in 1996 (7 games):

17-Jan-96 Vs Hartford 3 6 L
22-Jan-96 @ Colorado 3 4 L
24-Jan-96 @ Calgary 1 4 L
26-Jan-96 @ Edmonton 1 4 L
27-Jan-96 @ Vancouver 3 6 L
30-Jan-96 Vs Buffalo 5 4 Wot
3-Feb-96 @ Washington 5 6 Lot

Home Losing streak

Isles have lost three straight at home, dropping their home
record to 7-6-2. They have scored only eight goals in the six
home losses.

Their home record this season is actually one point worse
through 15 games than they were last season, when they were 8-6-1.

Stat Trick

1. The Isles are 0-3 vs Canadian opponents this season and
0-5-1 in their last six games against their neighbors to the
North. It's their longest winless streak against Canada since an
0-7-3-1 stretch in the 1999-2000 season.

2. The Isles have allowed (at least) four goals in three
straight games for the first time this season.

3. Blake Comeau is only the third Islander to wear #57. Shawn
Evans [1 goal (his only one in the NHL) in 2 games in 1989-90
season] and Mark Hamway [53 games in three seasons for the
Isles, going 5-13-18] are the others, although Hamway may have
worn 57 for only two games in the 1984-85 season.

Stat Trick

The PRLD (Post-Ranger Letdown) lives!

1. In their last 32 games following a game against the Rangers,
the Isles are 7 wins, 18 losses, 4 ties, and 3 ot losses. (This
includes a 1-2 record in the back half of home/homes with the
Rangers.)

2. In their last 11 games following a win against the Rangers,
the Isles are 1-7-3, with the only win coming in the back-half
of the home and home in October, 2005.

3. The Isles have played Ottawa in the game following the
Rangers eight times in their history. They haven't won once --
four losses, three ties, and an overtime loss. They'll have
another shot on December 27th in Ottawa, after hosting the
Rangers on December 26th.

Hat Tricks both ways

As mentioned on Sunday's telecast, it was the first time that
there have been hat tricks for both teams in an Islander-Ranger
game. (Neither team has ever had a two hat trick game against
the other)

I believe that this is the eighth time that both teams have had
hat tricks in games involving the Isles and that they are now
4-2-2 in such games:

Denis Potvin & Darryl Sittler (Isles 7 - Toronto 10) 1978

Butch Goring & Real Cloutier (Isles 9 - Quebec 6) 1980

Bryan Trottier & Ken Houston (Isles 6 - Caps 3) 1982

Dave Gagner & Pat LaFontaine (Isles 8 - North Stars 6) 1989.

Derek King & Mario Lemieux (Isles 6 - Penguins 7) 1991.

Ray Ferraro & Brett Hull (Isles 7 - St. Louis 7) 1991

Derek King & Sylvain Turgeon (Isles 5 - Ottawa 5) 1993.

Viktor Kozlov & Brendan Shanahan (Isles 7 - Rangers 4) 2006.

Re: Where were you on February 19, 1990????

On the morning of 2/19/90 [President's Day], the Isles, already
losers of three straight (part of an 0-11-3 stretch), woke up in
first place, two points ahead of the Rangers. The Rangers beat
the Devils in overtime that day... and the Islanders haven't had
a multi-point lead in their division (this late in the season)
since.

The Isles actually had a six point lead earlier in February...
at the end of a 23-6-3 stretch that was part of the streakiest
season in Isles history.

Start 5-18-3
Then 23-6-3
Then 1-14-5
Finish 2-0-0 and make the playoffs on the last
night of the season when Uwe Krupp eliminates the Penguins.

Pittsburgh got the last laugh. They picked 5th and got Jagr,
Scott Scissons went to the Isles with the next pick.

The Devils and Rangers are both off tonight, so if the Isles can
get a point against Ottawa (and we know historically how easy
that's been :(, they'll have a multi-point lead this late in
the season for the first time since I was single!

--- Eric Hornick <forever1940@yahoo.com> wrote:

> ...and why would I ask.
>
>
> Answer later.
>
>
>
> Forever1940 is the nom de plume of FSN statistician Eric
> Hornick.
>
> Eric, who has worked the Stanley Cup Finals four times, will
> celebrate his 25th anniversary as the statistician on Islander
> home telecasts on January 21, 2007. Often referred to on-air
> as an actuary, he is one of 2,890 Fellows of the Casualty
> Actuarial Society and is the President-Elect of the Casualty
> Actuaries of Greater NY.
>
> You can find him in the "Best Seat in the House", about six
> feet to Howie and Billy's left, at most Islander home games.
>
> For more on the actuarial profession, visit
> www.beanactuary.org
>

If the Isles get a point Tuesday...

they will have a multiple point lead in their division this late
in the season for the first time since 1990!

After Feb 10, 1990
Patrick Division W-L-T Pts
NY Islanders 28-24-6 62
New Jersey 25-25-6 56
NY Rangers 23-23-10 56
Pittsburgh 25-27-4 54
Washington 24-30-4 52
Philadelphia 22-26-8 52

After Feb 18, 1990
Patrick Division W-L-T Pts
NY Islanders 28-27-6 62
NY Rangers 25-25-10 60
Pittsburgh 27-28-5 59
New Jersey 25-27-7 57
Washington 26-30-4 56
Philadelphia 24-29-8 56

On February 19, 1990 the Rangers beat the Devils 4-3 in overtime
to tie the Isles for first place. The Rangers tied Detroit 4-4
on 2/21/1990 to push the Isles into second place.

The Isles are in sole possession of first place in their
division for the first time (this late in the season) since
Islanders held sole possession of first place this late in the
season -- the night of December 14, 2001

Atlantic Division W-L-T-OL Pts
NY Islanders 16-8-5-2 39
NY Rangers 17-13-2-2 38
Philadelphia 14-9-5-1 34
Pittsburgh 13-13-4-2 32
New Jersey 13-12-3-2 31

[the Rangers won the next night and the Isles lost -- the Isles
would get even again on December 21, 2001 --the last time that
they had at least a share of first place this late in the
season.]

A goal for Nolan

Not Ted, but his son Brandon.

Brandon Nolan scored his first goal for the Sound Tigers, but Bridgeport dropped a 5-3 decision in Manchester. Jeff Tambellini had a pair of assists and now has a nine-game point streak for the 10-8-1-3 Sound Tigers.

Bridgeport has a home/home series with Binghamton this Wednesday/Saturday. They then are off until December 16th.

More lasts for the first place team

Isles scored 12 goals this weekend in their consecutive wins over the Penguins and Rangers.

Isles last scored 12 goals in consecutive games: January 30 - February 4, 2002 (beat Rangers 6-3 and tied Florida 6-6) Isles last scored 12 goals in two days: October 10-11, 2001 (beat Pens 6-3 and Devils 6-4) in the third and fourth games of the Laviolette era.

Lots of last times

Isles scored 7 : November 16, 2005 in Atlanta (W 7-3). They haven't scored more than seven since scoring 9 against Chicago in 2003.

Isles scored 4 in a period: December 19, 2005 at Toronto (4-4 first period -- including Islander goals for Eric Godard and Rob Collins) Isles also allowed four goals in second period and lost 9-6, beginning 2-8 swoon that cost Stirling his job.

An Islander scored 4: March 25, 2003 in Chicago (Yashin) An Islander scored at least 4 against the Rangers -- Bryan Trottier 12/23/78 [5 goals] An Islander scored 4 at MSG -- never An Islander recorded a hat trick against the Rangers -- Alexei Yashin 1/30/02 at MSG Viktor Kozlov recorded a hat trick -- 1/6/00 for Florida against Anaheim --only previous career hat trick

The Islanders allowed a hat trick...and won. October 20, 2005 vs NY Rangers (Jagr) Isles won 5-4.

and why not... A Ranger recorded a hat trick against the Isles: Martin Straka 3/29/06 on Long Island A Ranger recorded a hat trick against the Isles at MSG: Adam Graves February 2, 1994

The Isles earned 15 points in a stretch of 10 road games --Nov 8 to Dec 8, 2005 [also 7-2-1] (The Isles haven't earned more than 15 points in a ten road game stretch since 1990.)

The Isles scored 7 at MSG -- tied club record: 1-Feb-78 @ New York 7 6 W [Isles hold on after Chico gets third man in for going after Espo in fight with Persson with 4 minutes to play; Smitty allows last two but Isles hand Rangers their sixth straight loss] 22-Nov-81 @ New York 7 2 W [Isles complete sweep of home and home] 29-Mar-82 @ New York 7 3 W [Night Michael Jordan beat Georgetown -- I watched the end with Craig Patrick] 3-Dec-06 @ New York 7 4 W [Viktor Kozlov ... and 31 blocked shots.]

Islanders held sole possession of first place this late in the season -- the night of December 14, 2001

Atlantic Division W-L-T-OL Pts NY Islanders 16-8-5-2 39 NY Rangers 17-13-2-2 38 Philadelphia 14-9-5-1 34 Pittsburgh 13-13-4-2 32 New Jersey 13-12-3-2 31

[the Rangers won the next night and the Isles lost -- the Isles would get even again on December 21, 2001 --the last time that they had at least a share of first place this late in the season.]

The Isles will hold first place for at least 72 hours-- Isles/Rangers/Devils are all idle on Monday night; the Isles can extend their lead on Tuesday vs Ottawa -- the Devils next play on Wednesday (Montreal) and the Rangers play Pittsburgh on Thursday.

Oops. Hit send and then kicked self in head :)

Correction:

The Isles have allowed only thirteen goals in their last eight games, going 6-1-1 in that stretch. They've carried a shutout to the third period in five of those games -- winning all five, but only one by shutout.

The 13 goals allowed in eight games is one off of the club record for the fewest goals allowed in an eight game stretch. [They allowed twelve goals twice in overlapping stretches in the 2001-02 season --the only times since the 1976-77 season!]

Club record-tying defensive stretch

The Isles have allowed only twelve goals in their last eight games, going 6-1-1 in that stretch. They've carried a shutout to the third period in five of those games -- winning all five, but only one by shutout.

The 12 goals allowed in eight games equals a club record for the fewest goals allowed in an eight game stretch. [It was done twice in overlapping stretches in the 2001-02 season --the only times since the 1976-77 season!]

Stat Trick

1. Two more goals for Blake, give him 101 as an Islander [He had seven as a King]. Twenty-five of the 101 have come on the powerplay.

2. Isles are 12-4-3 for 27 points in the last nineteen games. It's their best nineteen game stretch since the year I got married -- 1990.

3. Isles are 7-3-1 this month and have guaranteed themselves a winning November. They also had a winning record last November. It's the first time that they've had consecutive winning Novembers since doing so four years in a row: 1983-86.

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of FSN statistician Eric Hornick.

Eric, who has worked the Stanley Cup Finals four times, will celebrate his 25th anniversary as the statistician on Islander home telecasts on January 21, 2007. Often referred to on-air as an actuary, he is one of 2,901 Fellows of the Casualty Actuarial Society and is the President-Elect of the Casualty Actuaries of Greater NY.

You can find him in the "Best Seat in the House", about six feet to Howie and Billy's left, at most Islander home games.

For more on the actuarial profession, visit www.beanactuary.org

Last time first

The Islanders begin the day Saturday with a share of first place in the Atlantic. It’s the latest that this has happened in a season since the morning of December 23, 2001.

EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic W-L-T-OL Pts GF GA NY Rangers 19-14-3-2 43 108 106 NY Islanders 18-10-5-2 43 97 86 Philadelphia 18-10-5-1 42 100 74 New Jersey 14-13-5-2 35 79 85 Pittsburgh 14-15-5-2 35 81 99

The Rangers beat Ottawa on 12/23/01 to take the Division lead to the Christmas break…and while the Isles would finish the season only two points out of first place, they never again shared the lead.

If the Isles end Saturday in sole possession of first place, it would mark the first time that this has happened this late in the season since the night of December 14, 2001.

If the Islanders win Saturday…

They’ll have earned 27 points in a nineteen game stretch for the first time since the 1989-90 season (they had several overlapping stretches of 31 points in nineteen games that season). The Isles are 11-4-3 / 25 points in their last 18 games.

Silver Skinny on the Streaking Islanders

The Silver Skinny On the Streaking Islanders By Eric Hornick, FSNY

The Isles are 11-4-3 for 25 points in last 18 games; this is their most points in an eighteen game stretch since they went 12-4-0-2 in a similar stretch in December 2001/January 2002.

The Isles are also 8-3-1 in their last twelve games.

If the Islanders win tonight…

They’ll have earned 27 points in a nineteen game stretch for the first time since the 1989-90 season (they had several overlapping stretches of 31 points in nineteen games that season) If the Islanders lose in overtime or in a shootout tonight…

They’ll have 26 points in a nineteen game stretch – last done under Laviolette in 2001-02 and again in 2002-03.

The Islanders begin the day with a share of first place in the Atlantic. It’s the latest that this has happened in a season since the morning of December 23, 2001.

EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W-L-T-OL Pts GF GA NY Rangers 19-14-3-2 43 108 106 NY Islanders 18-10-5-2 43 97 86 Philadelphia 18-10-5-1 42 100 74 New Jersey 14-13-5-2 35 79 85 Pittsburgh 14-15-5-2 35 81 99 The Rangers beat Ottawa on 12/23/01 to take the Division lead to the Christmas break…and while the Isles would finish the season only two points out of first place, they never again shared the lead.

If the Isles end today in sole possession of first place, it would mark the first time that this has happened since the night of December 14, 2001.

The Isles are 6-3-1 in November. If they earn one more point this month, they will have consecutive winning Novembers for the first time since 1983-1986 [4 straight]. The Isles went 7-6-1 last November and haven’t won more than seven November games since 1987.

Believe it or not—the Isles have already wrapped up a second consecutive winning November on the road [5-3-0 last year and 4-1-1 with one game to play this year]. It’s only the second time in Islander history that they’ve had winning records on the road in consecutive Novembers – Al Arbour never did it, but Terry Simpson did – going 4-2-0 in 1986 and 3-2-0 in 1987.

Fwd: Stat Trick

--- Eric Hornick <forever1940@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Date: Fri, 24 Nov 2006 19:47:43 -0800 (PST) > From: Eric Hornick <forever1940@yahoo.com> > Subject: Stat Trick > To: "islanderfans@yahoogroups.com" > <islanderfans@yahoogroups.com>, > IslesList <isles-list@replayer.com> > > 1. Isles are 11-4-3 for 25 points in last 18 games; this is > their most points in an eighteen game stretch since they went > 12-4-0-2 in a similar stretch in December 2001/January 2002. > > 2. For the second straight game, sixteen different Islanders > had > at least one shot on goal. [Brendan Witt and Arron Asham did > not get a shot Friday [not counting Witt's hit on Malkin :)] > after Witt and Hill did not get a shot on Wednesday. > > 3. The Islanders dressed the same eighteen skaters for the > twentieth straight game. >

Fwd: Re: So when was the last time the Islanders earned a point in six straight road games?

--- Eric Hornick <forever1940@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Date: Sun, 19 Nov 2006 19:52:33 -0800 (PST) > From: Eric Hornick <forever1940@yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: So when was the last time the Islanders earned a > point in six straight road games? > To: "islanderfans@yahoogroups.com" > <islanderfans@yahoogroups.com>, > IslesList <isles-list@replayer.com> > > Oops... I goofed. The Isles won their first six road games > under Laviolette. > > They'll look to make it points in seven straight for the first > time since 1983 on Monday night. > > > --- Eric Hornick <forever1940@yahoo.com> wrote: > > > OK, I admit it--this is a new NHL type stat. But even > before > > the advent of the shootout, the Isles would have points in > the > > last six on the road [4 wins, a shootout win and a shootout > > loss]. > > > > How long has it been since they did that? > > > > You have to go back in the books until the days of the > Stanley > > Cup Champion New York Islanders. > > > > In January & February 1983, en route to Cup #4, the Isles > had > > a > > 5-0-2 road stretch. > > > > 13-Jan-83 @ New Jersey 5 2 W > > 20-Jan-83 @ Montreal 4 4 T > > 27-Jan-83 @ Los Angeles 6 4 W > > 29-Jan-83 @ Vancouver 5 3 W > > 30-Jan-83 @ Edmonton 4 2 W > > 1-Feb-83 @ Calgary 2 2 T > > 3-Feb-83 @ New Jersey 7 2 W > > > > > > They hadn't earned a point in as many as six straight road > > games > > since. Until now. [They had points in five straight road > > games > > six times in that span] > > > > The club record for points in consecutive road games is 8, > set > > in 1975-76 [6-0-2] and equalled in 1978-79 [7-0-1], and > again > > in > > 1980-81 [8-0-0]. > > > > (Personal note -- I watched the 4-4 tie in 1983 from the > Forum > > press box. My uncle was watching too --and he spilled the > > beans > > that I was in Montreal Quebec, and not studying in > > Schenectady, NY!) > > > >

Fwd: [isles-list] Stat Trick

--- Eric Hornick <forever1940@yahoo.com> wrote:

> > 1. The Isles have beaten Chicago in four straight games, > dating > back to 2003, after having beaten the Hawks only four times in > the previous 38 meetings. > > 2. The Isles' defense contributed three assists, giving them > 20 > points [2-18-20] in the first 11 games. Not bad, particularly > when you remember that Chris Campoli led the defense in > scoring > last season. > > 3. Alexei Yashin recorded his 106th goal as an Islander, > finally > pushing Eddie Westfall [105 goals] out of the Isles' top 20. > Jason Blake's goal was his 100th NHL goal -- all but seven > have > come as an Islander. > > > > Forever1940 is the nom de plume of FSN statistician Eric > Hornick. > > Eric, who has worked the Stanley Cup Finals four times, will > celebrate his 25th anniversary as the statistician on Islander > home telecasts on January 21, 2007. Often referred to on-air > as an actuary, he is one of 2,901 Fellows of the Casualty > Actuarial Society and is the President-Elect of the Casualty > Actuaries of Greater NY. > > You can find him in the "Best Seat in the House", about six > feet to Howie and Billy's left, at most Islander home games. > > For more on the actuarial profession, visit > www.beanactuary.org > >

Where'd everybody go?

Attendance for tonight's game was announced as 9,438.

It's the lowest announced crowd for an Islander home game since only 3,863 made it through a blizzard to see a season-turning victory over the Blackhawks on December 6, 2003. [However, many more tickets were sold for that game.]

You'd have to go back 162 home games, to the 2001-02 season, to find the last true sub-10,000 crowd.

On October 30, 2001 the Islanders ran their season opening point streak to 11 games [9-0-1-1] with a 3-2 victory over Florida. Only 9,271 attended the game.

Re: Dunham faces 50

With a little more time to look...

Dunham's efforts in Anaheim marked the first time that the Islanders had allowed 50 shots in a game in 7 1/2 years.

On April 12, 1999, Felix Potvin tied the Islander club record by making 55 saves [on 57 shots] as the Islanders won in New Jersey 4-2

With Saturday's home opener win, Dunham has stopped 89 of 94 shots, raising his save percentage to 94.7%.

--- Eric Hornick <forever1940@yahoo.com> wrote:

> A note from a hotel in Chicago---- > > Mike Dunham made 46 saves on 50 shots [regulation/OT] in the > Islanders' shootout win in Anaheim tonight. > > It was only the second time in his NHL career that he faced at > least 50 shots. > > On October 21, 1998, Dunham made 52 saves on 57 shots in a 5-2 > loss to Detroit. It was the first month of the Predators' > existence. > > > BTW, neither Garth Snow nor Rick DiPietro have ever faced 50 > shots in a game as an Islander goaltender. Snow faced at least > 50 only once in his NHL career [making 48 saves in a 4-3 ot > win > for the Canucks in 2001 -- ironically Dunham was in goal for > Nashville that night.] > > DiPietro has faced as many as 46 shots in a game -- in Anaheim > in 2004. > >

Coaching Debuts

Coaching Debuts

Phil Goyette 10/07/72 * L 3-2 Atlanta Earl Ingarfeld 01/31/73 L 5-3 @ Toronto Al Arbour 10/10/73 * T 1-1 @ Atlanta Terry Simpson 10/09/86 * L 3-2 @ Chicago Al Arbour II 12/09/89 L 6-5 @ New Jersey Lorne Henning 01/21/94 * W 2-1 Florida Mike Milbury 10/07/95 * T 4-4 @ Boston Rick Bowness 01/24/97 W 5-2 @ Hartford Mike Milbury II 03/12/98 L 2-1 Washington Bill Stewart 01/21/99 W 5-2 @ Pittsburgh Butch Goring 10/02/99 * L 4-2 @ Tampa Bay Lorne Henning II03/04/01 W 5-2 @ New York Rangers Peter Laviolette10/05/01 * W 3-2 @ Tampa Bay Steve Stirling 10/09/03 * L 6-1 @ Washington Brad Shaw 01/12/06 W 3-2 Vs. Calgary Ted Nolan 10/06/06 * L 6-3 @ Phoenix

* Season Opener Isles are 6-8-2 in coaching debuts, 2-5-2 when the game is a season opener.

Does older equal better?

The Isles enter the season with four players:

Dunham [June 1 1972] Hill [Feb 14 1970] Sillinger [June 29 1971] Simon [January 30 1972]

who were alive when the Isles played their first NHL game on October 7, 1972.

None of these players were with the team last season. The oldest of the players from last season's team is Alexei Zhitnik, who was born three days after the Flames beat the Islanders 2-1 in the first game in their respective franchise's history, making Morris Stefaniw a household name.

Isles/Rangers/Devils

Former Ranger, former Devil goalie Mike Dunham signs with Islanders. He joins these players who have completed the New York-area hat trick: Joel Bouchard, Pat Conacher, Vladimir Malakhov, Sergei Nemchinov, John Vanbiesbrouck.

[from Mark Herrmann]

Offensive offense

The Isles have scored only two goals in their last four games. That ties the club record for fewest goals in a four-game stretch. The record was set in 1972-73: 2-Jan-73 Vs Atlanta 1 6 L 3-Jan-73 @ Buffalo 1 4 L 6-Jan-73 Vs Detroit 0 4 L 7-Jan-73 @ Detroit 0 4 L

and tied -- twice -- in 2003-04: 22-Nov-03 @ Columbus 1 2 L 26-Nov-03 Vs Carolina 0 2 L 28-Nov-03 @ Detroit 0 6 L 29-Nov-03 Vs Philadelphia 1 5 L

26-Nov-03 Vs Carolina 0 2 L 28-Nov-03 @ Detroit 0 6 L 29-Nov-03 Vs Philadelphia 1 5 L 2-Dec-03 Vs Washington1 4 L

The Isles also equalled the club record for fewest goals scored in three consecutive games, all played at home (2): 27-Feb-01 Vs New Jersey 1 4 L 1-Mar-01 Vs Carolina 1 3 L 3-Mar-01 Vs Tampa Bay 0 6 L

Those were the final three games coached by Butch Goring.

Get out the history books

The Isles finish the season 6-1-1 against New Jersey. It's the first time since 1983-84 [7-0-0] that the Isles have won at least six games from New Jersey. The Isles were 3-0-1 at the Meadowlands. It's the first time since 1992-93 that they've won three games in a season in New Jersey and the first since since 1982-83 that they've picked up points in four games in New Jersey. The Isles have beaten Marty Brodeur four straight times; prior to this streak they had never beaten the perennial all-star three straight times. Brad Shaw is the only Islander coach besides Al Arbour to ever win four straight against the Devils franchise. Marty Brodeur has allowed twelve goals in his last two games and was pulled from both. He had never allowed more than ten goals in consecutive games and was last pulled in consecutive games on Dec 31/96 - Jan 2/97. Rick DiPietro has won six straight games - a career high. Di Pietro has won seven straight starts [he was charged with the loss in relief against Montreal], and is 11-1-1 in his last 13 starts. The Isles are 6-1 in their last seven games. The Isles have won four straight games, and have allowed only one goal in each. If the Isles can hold Atlanta to one goal or less on Thursday, they will tie a club record of allowing one goal or fewer in five straight games. The record was set early in the 1974-75 season. At 31-29-4, the Isles are two games over NHL .500 -- one game shy of their season best [15-12-2, 16-13-2, 17-14-2] done three times. The Isles are now .500 on the road 15-15-2, for 32 points. Other than the 2001-02 season, when they had 37 points in 32 games, they haven't had more than 32 points in their first 32 road games since they had 34 in 32 games when they were still defending the Stanley Cup in 1983-84. [Of course, there are more points per game available this season than ever before.]

Penalty Shots

Some things you might not have known...

Martin Straka's goal is the first-ever penalty shot goal in an Islander-Ranger game. There were three previous failures:

Don Murdoch on Chico Resch 1/28/78 Randy Wood on Mike Richter 4/5/90 [playoffs] Claude Lapointe on Mike Richter 10/25/98

[There has never been a penalty shot goal in an Islander-Devil game.]

Straka is now 3/8 on his career in penalty shots [3/7 in regular season and 0/1 in playoffs]

DiPietro had stopped four previous penalty shots: Stopped Michael Nylander [WSH], December 21, 2002 Stopped Erik Cole [CAR], April 2, 2004 Stopped Patrik Stefan [ATL], October 25, 2005 Stopped Dany Heatley [OTT], November 5, 2005

It's the first time in Islander history that they've allowed two penalty shot goals in one season [Vincent Lecavalier scored on January 2nd].

DiPietro has now faced five penalty shots, tying the club record set by Kelly Hrudey. [Resch, Smith and Snow have each faced four in regular season play]

The Isles have allowed five penalty shots this season, which is a new club record. The previous mark of four was set in the 1977-78 season. The Isles faced only three penalty shots in all of the 1990's [779 regular season games]

Leaguewide, there have been 28 penalty shot goals on 73 shots this season. Both are NHL records by wide margins. The shooters are getting more accurate too-- over the prior two seasons combined there were 27 goals on 96 shots. There were only 27 penalty shot goals throughout the league over the first eight seasons of Islander history.

Shaw now 5-3-1 as Isles coach

With Tuesday's win over Washington, Brad Shaw is now 5-3-1 behind the Isles bench and the team has not gone consecutive games without a point at any time during his tenure. Shaw is the only interim coach in Isles history to hold a winning record after nine games; the only other time any Islander coach held a winning record nine games into any tenure was when Peter Laviolette was 7-0-1-1 in his first nine games.

Record-setting night in Boston

Howie and Chris mentioned late in the game that the Islanders were closing in on a club record for shots on game --54, set in 1994 in Hartford and equaled in 2004 in Florida. While they fell short of that record, the Isles outshot Boston 51-44 for the game [including 21-19 in the third period]. The 95 combined shots is the most in any regular season game in Islander history. The record-setting shot was taken by future Hall-of-Famer Brian Leetch, who launched a 142 foot slap shot just before the final horn. The previous record, 94, was set on October 12, 1993 in Los Angeles. The Isles outshot the Kings 51-43, but fell 7-5 to the Kings in the final game of their 1-3-0 season-opening road trip. One player who scored in that game also scored in this one: Alexei Zhitnik.

Bad....but historical... and a 25th anniversary worth noting

The Isles have now been outscored 12-1 in their last 2 home games. The -11 goal differential is the second worst in club history. In March 2000, the Islanders lost consecutive home games by an 8-2 score to Pittsburgh and New Jersey -- the latter game was Larry Robinson's Devil debut. Despite winning his first game, the Isles have been outscored 15-5 in three home games under Brad Shaw. It's the fourteenth time in club history that the Isles have been outscored by at least ten goals in a three home-game span. [Several of the previous streaks were overlapping.] The club record over three home games is -14, also set in March 2000. By the way, eleven of those fourteen streaks have occurred in the last ten seasons; the other three all occurred under Phil Goyette in the first 21 home games of the club's history. The Isles were NEVER outscored by ten goals in a three home-game stretch under Al Arbour. They lost three games by a combined 14-5 in early 1989 -- home games 7-9 of Arbour's second tenure. Speaking of Arbour, he was behind the bench 25 years ago tonight -- when Mike Bossy scored goals 49 and 50 in his 50th game, to tie Rocket Richard's record. The event was mentioned on tonight's Islander telecast and radiocast, and the Devils telecast. Ron Grahame, whose son John will represent Team USA was the goaltender who game up the milestone goal; Isles defensemen Stefan Persson had five assists -- one short of the still-standing club record, which was set two weeks earlier by Bossy. Finally, a sad and fond farewell to Tim Moriarty, a Hall of Fame writer who among other works authored "The Incredible Islanders", which chronicled the 1975 team. Moriarty, who retired from Newsday nearly two decades ago, pased away today at the age of 82. Forever1940 is the nom de plume of FSN statistician Eric Hornick. Eric is now in his 25th year as the statistician on Islander home telecasts and has also worked the Stanley Cup Finals four times. Often referred to on-air as an actuary, he is one of 2,782 Fellows of the Casualty Actuarial Society and is the Vice President of the Casualty Actuaries of Greater NY. You can find him in the "Best Seat in the House", about six feet to Howie and Joe's left, at most Islander home games. For more on the actuarial profession, visit www.beanactuary.org