25 years ago
tonight (1989) – Of all the hundreds of games the Isles and Rangers have
played, one of the most memorable did not have a single goal scored in it. Mark Fitzpatrick and John Vanbiesbrouck
battled to a scoreless tie.
The Rangers
outshot the Isles 33-26, but neither team could score. Fitzpatrick, who extended his shutout streak
to 136:45, recorded his third career shutout, all in a four-game period.
It was the
first time the Islanders had ever blanked the Rangers at the Coliseum in regular season play.
Fitzpatrick
told Newsday’s Mark Herrmann: "Zero-zero games don't happen all the time.
It was great to play in one. It was
probably the best hockey game I've seen this year."
Islander
winger Don Maloney noted: "For my money, that was the type of hockey you
can see in the playoffs. Everybody got their money's worth." Four months
later the teams would meet in the playoffs.
Each team had
some great scoring chances, none finer than the 2-on-0 the Isles had late in
the game that was broken up on a (penalized) stick slash by Tomas Sandstrom.
Here's the NY Times story on the game:
Also on this
date: (2003) – Radek Martinek scored the game-winning goal early in the third
period as the Isles rallied for a 5-2 win over Tampa Bay. Garth Snow made 29
saves for the win.
All-time, the
Isles have played nine December 9th games at the Coliseum and finish with a 3-5-1
record on this date at 1255 Hempstead Turnpike in Uniondale.
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