It Happened at the Coliseum … on APRIL 19th

35 years ago tonight (1980) - Bryan Trottier scored two goals and added two assists as the Isles took a 3-0 stranglehold on their series with Boston, defeating the Bruins 5-3.

Don Marcotte gave the Bruins a short-lived 1-0 lead before goals by John Tonelli and Trottier turned the game in the Isles’ favor.  Alex McKendry, playing in place of an injured Mike Bossy (who missed his 5^th straight game with a jammed thumb), assisted on the Tonelli tally.

Bob Bourne, who had won a fight-filled game two with an overtime goal, pushed the Isles ahead 3-1 just seven minutes into the middle session; Peter Mc Nab and Bob Nystrom traded goals before the session ended with the Isles holding a 4-2 lead. Clark Gillies fought Terry O’Reilly twice in the session; Duane Sutter had an altercation with Boston’s Mike Milbury.

Here’s round 1 of Gillies and O’Reilly:

Here's round 2:

O’Reilly went at it again early in the third period with Garry Howatt, but that got him ejected for his third fight of the game.  Trottier and McNab traded third period goals as the Isles coasted to a 5-3 win.

“Trotts is amazing”, Bobby Nystrom told Newsday’s Pat Calabria. “I’d like to know what goes on inside his head.  I knew he’s three of four moves ahead of me.”

Billy Smith made 32 saves as he recorded his 7^th straight playoff win (6^th this playoff year)

The Isles were also missing Kenny Morrow who missed the game following the removal of cartridge from his right knee.  (These days we would know it as a “lower body injury”.)

Also on this date: (1978) – Mike Bossy scored 2:50 into overtime as the Isles took a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference Quarter-Final series with a 3-2 victory over Toronto.  “I’d say it was dirty”, noted Denis Potvin – and it would get dirtier from there. It was Bossy’s 2^nd goal in as many career playoff games, tying a Jean Potvin’s club record for consecutive games at the start of his NHL goal with a playoff goal.  Brent Sutter would join that group in 1982 but it would stay a trio for 33 years – until Ryan Strome did so on Friday.

All-time, the Isles have played no regular season and two playoff games on April 19th at the Coliseum; they have compiled 2-0 playoff record on this date at 1255 Hempstead Turnpike in Uniondale.  The final April 19th home game is at noon today –as the Isles host Washington in Game 3 of series. Make sure you’re there for the 119^th Stanley Cup playoff game in Nassau County.