It Happened at the Coliseum … on MAY 4th

40 years ago tonight (1975) - Reggie  Leach scored the game’s only goal 30 seconds into the third period as the Flyers took a 3 game to 0 series lead over the Isles with a 1-0 victory.

Bobby Clarke (L) and Reg Leach  (undated)

 

The Flyers dominated throughout the game, outshooting the Isles 24-11 through two periods. The Isles managed only 14 shots on goal against Bernie Parent, establishing a club record that would be tied, but not beaten until last Monday when the Isles had only 11 shots on goal in game 7 in Washington.  It was the second time in the series that the Flyers, who were on the way to the second of their back-to-back Cups, had blanked the Isles.

“They never really gave us a chance to get going”, Al Arbour told the NY Times’ Robin Finn.  “They were always on top of us.  We’d be passing to an open man and by the time he got it someone was there.”

One interesting note in the NY Times story – Bobby Nystrom was held off the scoreboard again.  Nystrom had fired 41 shots in his playoff career without scoring.  That was soon change.

The game featured three players who would eventually have their numbers retired by their junior team in Flin Flon, Manitoba:

Players	Numbers
Gerry Hart	4  (wore #2 with Isles)
Reg Leach	9 (wore #27 with Flyers)
Bobby Clarke	11 (wore #16 with Flyers)

 

All-time, the Isles played one playoff game on May 4th at the Coliseum; they compiled a 0-1 playoff record on this date at 1255 Hempstead Turnpike in Uniondale.