It Happened at the Coliseum … on MARCH 21st

13 years ago tonight (2002) – Chris Osgood made 36 saves, including 28 in the final two periods as the Isles built a 3-1 lead and then held on for a 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks.

Brad Isbister had the only goal of the first period, in which the Isles outshot the Canucks 18-8.  Mats Naslund’s 31^st goal of the season evened the score for Vancouver with 5:10 remaining in the second period, but Alexei Yashin’s 31^st 2:10 later regained the lead for the Isles.

Mariusz Czerkawski scored the eventual winning goal at 8:56 of the third, but Vancouver wasn’t done.  Todd Bertuzzi cut the lead to one goal at 10:43, and 38 seconds later Mats Naslund had the chance to tie the game with a penalty shot. 

Osgood stopped the penalty shot, the only one that he faced as an Islander, and the Isles held on for the win, raising their record to 33-25-7-4.

Also on this date: (2004) – Rick DiPietro made 29 saves as the Isles blanked Tampa Bay 3-0. Mark Parrish, Michael Peca and Adrian Aucoin scored the Islander goals.

This was the first of  consecutive shutouts for Rick DiPietro .

All-time, the Isles have played eight March 21st games at the Coliseum and finish with a 4-4-0 record on this date at 1255 Hempstead Turnpike in Uniondale.