It Happened at the Coliseum … on JANUARY 4th

33 years ago tonight (1982) – In a Stanley Cup Final preview, the Isles broke a scoreless tie with three goals in a 2:37 span of the first period and defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-1.  Anders Kallur got the scoring started with a shorthanded tally; Mike McEwen and John Tonelli scored goals 21 seconds apart.

After Vancouver got on the board with a Curt Fraser goal, Clark Gillies concluded the scoring midway through the second period.

The Canucks were the victims of an Islander shake-up, as Bill Torrey head a team meeting before the game, in which he announced the permanent recall of Brent Sutter from Juniors.  

Islander legend Bob Nystrom watched the game from the SportsChannel TV studio – he was a healthy scratch. 

Butch Goring told Newsday’s Tim Moriarty: “(Management wasn’t) happy the way we lost those two game last week.  We’re all aware that our expectations are high.  It’s no excuse, but we still find ourselves looking ahead (to the playoffs) sometimes.

The Isles wouldn’t lose at home again in the regular season, and were just a few weeks ago from starting their 15-game win streak.

Here's more coverage of the game, and Brent Sutter's recall, from the NY Times: 
http://www.nytimes.com/1982/01/05/sports/islanders-win-with-3-in-first.html 

I don't have any video from that game, which was the final regular season game between the two teams that season, so how about some highlights from the final playoff meeting (the only Stanley Cup won by the Islanders on the road).

Also on this date: (1992) – Ray Ferraro and Derek King each scored a goal and added an assist while Graeme Townshend scored his only goal in an Islander uniform as the Isles beat Quebec 5-2.

Here's the (grainy) video on Townshend's tally:



(While it was his final NHL goal -- it wasn't his final NHL game,as the video suggests.)

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