It Happened at the Coliseum … on JANUARY 11th

19 years ago tonight (1996) – Tommy Soderstrom made 43 saves as the Isles built a 3-0 lead in the first period and then held on for a 4-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Dan Plante got the Isles started with his second goal of the season at 5:37 of the first period, and Mathieu Schnieder doubled the advantage 1:45 later.  When Niclas Andersson made in 3-0 at 13:47 it looked like it might be a rout.

The Leafs got a pair of goals back in the second period, but Ziggy Palffy scored with 1:48 to play in the session to make it 4-2.  A Mats Naslund third period tally got the Leafs close midway through the third but they couldn’t find the equalizer.

"Our goaltender stole two points for us," coach Mike Milbury told Newsday’s Jim Smith. "I thought he was brilliant.”

The win extended the Isles’ hottest streak of the season to 4-1-4 in their last nine games.

MSG's Bill Pidto, then working for ESPN2, narrates the highlights:

Also on this date: (2011) – Kevin Poulin make 48 saves, the most by an Islander rookie in 38 years, but in the end it was worth only one point as the NHL-leading Canucks defeated the Islanders 4-3 in a shootout . Vancouver extended their franchise-record point streak to 17 games (14-0-3) while the Isles extended their home-ice point streak to 6 games (4-0-2).

Poulin became the youngest goalie to make at least 48 saves in an NHL game since at least the 1987-88 season.

Howie Rose & Butch Goring have the highlights:

All-time, the Isles have played seven January 11th games at the Coliseum and finish with a 4-1-2 record on this date at 1255 Hempstead Turnpike in Uniondale.