Moulson/Tavares chase Palffy (Moulson chases Gretzky too!)

I used this for an Isles trivia question a couple of months ago when Tavares got off to his hot start -- he was 7-4-11 on the Isles' first 18 goals of the season.

While he hasn't kept up that insane pace, both Matt Moulson and John Tavares approach the midpoint of the season with a chance to do something that only Ziggy Palffy has done in an Islander uniform.

Palffy is the only Islander to score at least 20% of the team's goals over a full season (21.2% in 1997-98 and 20.0% in 1996-97).  Mike Bossy came close three times, but he never had 20% of the team's goals.

Through 40 games, Moulson has 20 of the Isles' 93 goals (21.5%)

Tavares also has points (39/93) on 41.9% of the Isles goals.  Palffy (41.0% in 1997-98) is the only Islander that has exceeded 40% for a full season.

One other perspective: when Wayne Gretzky had his 92-120-212 season in 1981-82, the Oilers scored 417 goals.  #99 thus had 22.1% of the goals, and points on 50.8% of them.

By the way, if Moulson should get the Isles' next goal, he would have 21/94 (22.3%), giving him a greater share than Gretzky had in his record season. 

 

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since January 21, 1982. Visit my blog: NYISkinny.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick