From the Geniusus at Elias: Okposo leaves "Dog' Alone

Entering play last night, Kyle Okposo and Duane Sutter shared a distinction -- the only players in Isles history to have scored at least 100 goals without ever recording a (regular season) hat trick.  (Elias)

Of course, Okposo's 4-goal game, including a Natty Hatty in the 3rd period, removed him from the discussion-- leaving Duane Sutter as the only one without a hat trick. It was a bad night for Sutter all around -- Okposo's four goals gives him 295 points, pushing him past Duane (292) and tying Mariusz Czerkawski for 18th place on the all-time Isles point list.  

The active Islander with the most goals without a hat trick is Josh Bailey, whose 73 goals is tied with Lorne Henning and the late JP Parise for 44th place.  Parise had a hat trick as an Islander; Henning did not.

Elias also noted that Okposo is the fourth Islander with a third period natural hat trick, joining:

Bob Nystrom (Jan. 31, 1974),

Mike Bossy (Nov. 27, 1985) and

Greg Gilbert (Feb. 16, 1988).

Nystrom's hat, in Los Angeles, turned a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 win.  (Some guy named Goring had an assist for the other guys)

Bossy's hat, in Minnesota, erased a 4-1 deficit to create a 4-4 tie.

Gilbert's hat, vs. Calgary at the Coliseum, padded a 6-3 lead to a 9-3 win.

 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