It Happened at the Coliseum … on MAY 3rd

35 years ago tonight (1980) – Bryan Trottier scored two second period goals to break a 2-2 tie as the Islanders moved within one win of the Stanley Cup Final with a 7-4 victory over Buffalo as the Isles grabbed a 3-0 lead in the series. It was the Isles’ 11^th straight playoff win over the Sabres (one shy of the NHL record against a single opponent).

Mike Bossy and Wayne Merrick had scored first period goals to give the Isles the lead but a late goal by Tony McKegney cut the advantage in half before the period was over.  After Gilbert Perreault tied the game at 8:12 of the 2^nd period, Trottier needed just 45 seconds to restore the Isles’ lead.  He then added a power play goal with 1:34 left in the session.

Lorne Henning and Bob Bourne scored in the first 8 minutes of the third to make it a 6-2 lead but the Sabres weren’t quite done yet, scoring twice in 58 seconds to cut the lead to 6-4 before Butch Goring cemented the win into an empty net.  

Billy Smith made 23 saves for the Isles, who outshot Buffalo 40-27.

“We’re one game away from the final; everyone knows that. If we do it in four, then we can sit back and relax”, Denis Potvin told the NY Times’ Parton Keese. “But there’s still one more game, don’t forget it.” 

The Isles wouldn’t do it in 4, or even 5, but one week later they would punch their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time.

Also on this date: (1983) Mike Bossy recorded his 4^th career hat trick as the Isles broke a 2-2 tie and then blew out the Bruins, 8-3, to take a 3-1 lead in the series.  It was the second of three hat tricks that spring for Bossy.  The Isles took control of the game in the second period, outshooting Boston 13-2; but the goals really flowed in the third period, when they scored five times in a 6:59 span.

The two shots allowed is a franchise playoff record for a period, while the five goals scored ties the club record.

Bossy’s 2^nd goal turned out to be the game-winner; he had the winning goal in all four games in that series –the only time that has been done in Stanley Cup history.

Here are some highlights, from Spencer Christian (WABC), Marv Albert (WNBC) and Warner Wolf (WCBS):

Also on this date: (1976) Jude Drouin scored two goals and added an assist as the Isles raced to a 4-0 lead as they defeated Montreal 5-2.  It was the only game that Montreal would lose enroute to the first of their four consecutive Stanley Cups.

All-time, the Isles played three playoff games on May 3rd at the Coliseum; they compiled a 3-0 playoff record on this date at 1255 Hempstead Turnpike in Uniondale.