It Happened at the Coliseum … on MARCH 13th

36 years ago tonight (1979) – Mike Bossy scored three goals for his fourth hat trick of the season, raising his total to 57 goals and Bryan Trottier added four assists as the Islanders pounded the Boston Bruins 7-2., moving the Isles within two points of Montreal for the NHL lead.

Prior to the game, Original Islander Ed Westfall announced his retirement.  Following a 4-minute standing ovation, Westfall commented: “You get out there and you want to say the right things, all the things you thought of during the day and wanted to remember.  Then you’re out there and you forget.”


It took nearly 33 years, but "18" was inducted into the Islander Hall of Fame in 2011.

Cherry as Bruins coach

Bossy had a big fan in the Boston locker room: Bruin coach Don Cherry.  When Cherry was asked “Want to know what I think of Mike Bossy”, he directed reporters back to Bossy to ask the Islander star what Cherry had told him two weeks ago.  The embarrassed Bossy, upon pressed, said that Cherry told him “You’re the greatest scorer I’ve ever seen”.  Bossy was chosen with the 15th overall pick in 1977; Boston picked 16th and selected Dwight Foster.

Cherry in his more familiar look on Hockey Night in Canada..

(With thanks to @trottiertobossy, here's how Marv Albert covered the night on WNBC 4-NY)







Also on this date: (2010) - Jon Sim and Mark Streit scored 50 seconds apart in the second period as the Isles broke open a tied game and went on to defeat the Devils 4-2.  Ilya Kovalachuk blew one past Dwayne Roloson to get the Devils within one goal early in the third period, but it was a mistake by Kovalchuk that led to a Sean Bergenheim shorthanded goal that produced the final margin.

Here are the highlights with Howie Rose and Billy Jaffe:

All-time, the Isles have played five March 13th games at the Coliseum and have compiled a 2-2-1 record on this date at 1255 Hempstead Turnpike in Uniondale.  The 6th and final March 13th home game is tonight –as the Isles host Ottawa at 7:00. Make sure you’re there, because after tonight, there are only 7 regular season games remaining.