It Happened at the Coliseum … on JANUARY 16th

25 years ago tonight (1990) – Glenn Healy made 51 saves as the Isles extended their winning streak to seven straight games and their home winning streak to eight with a 3-0 win over Vancouver.  

Randy Wood’s second period goal was all the Islanders needed, but Hubie McDonough and Patrick Flatley (the latter into an empty net) added third period tallies.

Healy (undated)

Healy’s 51 saves are the most an Islander goaltender ever made in a shutout, ''You don't want to be the goat who causes the streak to end,'' Healy told Joe Lapointe of the NY Times. ''We know, sooner or later, the streak is going to stop. They've been coming in bunches. There are a lot of doubters out there and a lot of people who couldn't believe we are for real. We know what it's like to lose, to be on the bottom. We know what the heartache is. We're trying to keep this snowball going.'' 

This was the final home game before the All-Star break; the Isles would win two road games before the break to extend their winning streak to 9. They have not had a winning streak of that length since.

 

With the win, the Isles, who were 5-18-3 at one point earlier in the campaign, reached .500 (21-21-4).

Here's more coverage from the NY Times: 
http://www.nytimes.com/1990/01/17/sports/healy-stops-51-shots-in-shutout-as-islanders-win-7th-in-row.html 

Unfortunately, I don't have any video from that game, but 2 1/2 months earlier Healy managed to get himself into a fight with Pittsburgh's Bob Errey.  Perhaps they should have used microphones, as Healy has gone on to a long career with CBC/SportsNet while Errey is a commentator on Penguins telecasts.

Here's Jiggs McDonald and Eddie Westfall on the call:

Also on this date: (1979) – Denis Potvin recorded his fourth career hat trick as the Isles beat Washington 6-2.

All-time, the Isles have played seven January 16th games at the Coliseum and have compiled a 5-2-0 record on this date at 1255 Hempstead Turnpike in Uniondale.  The eighth and final January 16th home game is tonight –as the Isles return home to host Pittsburgh at 7:00. Make sure you’re there, because after tonight, there are only 22 regular season games remaining.