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