It Happened at the Coliseum … on MARCH 7th

6 years ago tonight (2009) – Sean Bergenheim scored twice on Martin Brodeur, and then completed a hat trick into an empty net as the Isles pounded New Jersey 7-3. 

"My first NHL goal was an unbelievable feeling," Bergenheim said. "My first NHL hat trick gives me that same feeling." Bergenheim waited until the final second to hit the empty net and complete, what until this point, is the only hat trick of his NHL career.

Radek Martinek, Kyle Okposo, Jeff Tambellini and Blake Comeau had the other Isles goals as the Isles tallied 7 goals against New Jersey for the first time since the final game of the 1992-93 season, and improved to 8-2-2 in their last 12 games.

Mike Iggulden made his first appearance for the Isles, recording 2 assists.  (He’s unlikely to make another appearance in this series.)  Joey MacDonald made 35 saves to pick up the victory.

Trent Hunter broke his left ankle in a collision with Bobby Holik, ending his season.

It was a rare (for the time) hat trick for a home-grown New York Islander, as Bergenheim became the first player drafted by the Islanders since Zigmund Palffy to record a hat trick.

Brodeur allowed six goals in all, marking the first time he had done that in his last 162 games.

Here are the highlights:

 

Also on this date: (1999) – Tom Chorske beat Patrick Roy on a penalty shot but Colorado beat the Islanders 4-2.  NBCSN commentator Keith Jones had the winning goal for the Avs.

Ed Westfall describes the goal in this replay:



All-time, the Isles have played ten March 7th games at the Coliseum and finish with a 5-4-1 record on this date at 1255 Hempstead Turnpike in Uniondale.