A few trivial notes as the Coliseum opens for playoff hockey for the first time in 3 years and 2 days

The Islanders carry a long playoff home scoreless streak into Monday's game. They've gone 157:12 since Adrian Aucoin scored the Islanders' only goal in a 3-1 defeat to Ottawa (Game 4, 2003). It's their only goal in the last 243:19 of Coliseum playoff hockey.

The Isles have lost their last six Monday playoff games after going 9-3 in their first dozen Monday's. Their last Monday win came seventeen years ago last Monday (4-9-90) as Brent Sutter's goal early in the second overtime ended the first multiple overtime game in Coliseum history.

This is the third straight Islander playoff series that is tied 1-1. (The Isles lost game 3, and the series, to Ottawa and Tampa Bay in 2003 and 2004).

The Isles won game three (and the series) in 1976, 1977, and 1980 against Buffalo. The Isles have won seven of eight home playoff games against Buffalo, losing only game 4 in 1980.

A reminder: Local TV is on FSN-NY Monday and Wednesday. Out-of-town fans will find the games on Versus (Center Ice is blacked out).

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of FSN statistician Eric Hornick. Eric, who has worked the Stanley Cup Finals four times, celebrated 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 2,920 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