Matt Moulson has 34 goals and only six penalty minutes this season, leading some, include @kausatoday to remark on his Lady Byng candidacy.
Michael Grabner had 34 goals/10 penalty minutes last season, however the last player to have at least 34 goals with FEWER than 10 penalty minutes is Paul Kariya, who scored 44 goals while drawing only three minor penalties in 1996-97 for Anaheim.
Only one other player has done so since the mid-80's, Ulf Dahlen had 35 goals/6 penalty minutes for Minnesota in 1992-93.
Prior to 1985, it was a more common feat. In NHL history, it's happened 23 times prior to this season. Four players have done it twice, including Mike Bossy (53/6 in 1977-78, 51/8 in 1983-84).
No player has ever scored more than 28 goals without having a single penalty called on them. Only two players have scored more than 34 with only one minor penalty: Dave Keon (37/2 in 1972-73 for Toronto) and Butch Goring (37/2 in 1977-78 for Los Angeles).
Frans Nielsen, btw, has 15 goals and only 6 pen minutes. Besides Bossy and Moulson (current), the only other Isles to finish with at least 15 goals and fewer than 10 penalty minutes are Butch Goring (3x) and Ralph Stewart (1973-74).
Goring had 23 goals in 1980-81 and 0 pen minutes. He is the only player in Islander history to score at least 5 goals in a season without being penalized.
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
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