It Happened at the Coliseum … on MARCH 12th

38 years ago tonight (1977) – The Islanders spotted the Cleveland Barons a 2-0 lead but then exploded eight consecutive goals, enroute to an 8-3 win.

Jude Drouin and Clark Gillies each scored twice; it was the 28^th and 29^th goal of the season for Gillies.  Bryan Trottier added a goal and three assists.

Jude Drouin 

Gillies, who missed 10 games that season with injuries, would finish the campaign with 33 goals – one shy of his club record that he had set the previous year.  Of course that record would be smashed the following season by a rookie named Mike Bossy.

The win moved the Isles within three points of the first place Flyers.  Philadelphia would hold off the Islanders and win the Patrick Division that season; the Isles would claim the title for the first time the following season.

Also on this date: (1983) Mike Bossy and Clark Gillies each scored twice as the Isles beat Washington 6-2.  After a fairly even first period in which each team scored twice, the Isles outshot Washington 30-13 and outscored them 4-0 in the final 40 minutes.

Bossy's second goal was his (ho-hum) 50th of the season, marking the 6th straight season he had reached that mark.  (He would do so three more times, becoming the only player in NHL history to record 9 straight 50 goal seasons)

All-time, the Isles have played only five March 12th games at the Coliseum and finish with a 2-3-0 record on this date at 1255 Hempstead Turnpike in Uniondale.