It Happened at the Coliseum … on MARCH 6th

31 years ago tonight (1984) – Pat LaFontaine, playing his first home game, scored a goal and added an assist, as the Isles extended their unbeaten streak to seven with a 5-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.

It took LaFontaine less than five minutes to record his first point, an assist on Bobby Nystrom’s game opening goal.  LaFontaine would add an unassisted goal in the third period off his own face-off win for his 4^th goal in three career NHL games. 

LaFontaine might be the most popular former Islander who never won the Stanley Cup

Rollie Melanson made 21 saves for the Isles, who also got goals from Clark Gillies, Mike Bossy, and Bob Bourne.

Patrick Flatley also made his Isles home debut, but did not figure in the scoring.

“I do feel welcome”, LaFontaine told Newsday’s Pat Calabria.  The two new Pats debuted without any welcoming ceremony as Bill Torrey noted: “I just want to make it as comfortable for them as possible”.

Flatley was inducted into the Isles Hall of Fame in 2012

Also on this date: (1976) – Billy Harris scored two goals as the Islanders defeated Washington 6-3, clinching a playoff spot for the second consecutive season. Unlike 1974-75, the Isles didn’t wait to the final weekend of the season, clinching the spot with 14 games to play.

Patrick Div	W-L-T	Pts	GF	GA
Philadelphia	42-10-14	98	291	177
NY Islanders	35-17-14	84	251	157
Atl Flames	28-30-9	65	214	201
NY Rangers	23-35-8	54	217	273

The Isles haven’t won at the Coliseum on this date since 1997. All-time, the Isles have played twelve March 6th games at the Coliseum and finish with a 4-7-1 record on this date at 1255 Hempstead Turnpike in Uniondale.