It Happened at the Coliseum … on OCTOBER 26th

40 years ago tonight (1974) – Clark Gillies’ first NHL goal proved to be the winning tally in the Isles’ first-ever shutout win on Coliseum ice. Billy Smith made 28 saves for his second career shutout (the first one had occurred in Washington 5 days earlier).  Billy MacMillian, Bill Harris and Ralph Stewart also scored in a 4-0 Islander victory as the Isles improved to 5-1-1 on the season.

Gillies is right in the middle of this picture, directly behind Roy Boe, the Islanders original owner. Several of those in the picture would eventually sip from at least 1, if not 4 Stanley Cups

Gillies would go on to record 304 goals for the Islanders (4th all-time) while Smith recorded 304 wins for the Isles.

Also on this date: (1993) – Steve Thomas and Derek King each scored twice in a 7-0 blanking of Los Angeles behind 38 saves (20 in the second period) from Ron Hextall; 

(1995) – Mario Lemieux recorded his 500^th NHL goal in a 7-5 Penguin win.  Only Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky reached 500 goals faster than Mike Bossy.

Howie Rose, then in his first season broadcasting Islander games, has the call of #500

All-time, the Isles have played nine October 26th games at the Coliseum and finish with a 3-5-1 record on this date at 1255 Hempstead Turnpike in Uniondale.