It Happened at the Coliseum … on MAY 5th

The Isles won the Wales Trophy in
1982, 1983 and 1984. (They won the
 Campbell Bowl in 1978, 1979 and 1981)

31 years ago tonight (1984) – Mike Bossy scored two goals and Denis Potvin added two assists (have I mentioned you can always find a tweet about #ItHappened at exactly 5:22pm) as the Isles eliminated the Montreal Canadiens in six games with a 4-1 victory.

With the win, the Isles captured the Prince of Wales Trophy, and advanced to the Stanley Cup Final for the 5^th consecutive season.

It was the Isles 19^th straight series win – as impressive as the four straight championships are, this streak may be even more difficult for any team in a US professional sports to ever match.

Clark Gillies and Bossy scored 2 ½ minutes apart in the first period, and the Isles carried that lead into the 3^rd period.  Pat Flatley made it 3-0 just 30 seconds into the third period; it was the 8^th goal of the playoffs for the Islander rookie.  Potvin’s second assist was on that goal, giving him a then-Stanley Cup record 98 assists, breaking a tie with Montreal legend Jean Beliveau.

Mario Tremblay got Montreal back into the game at 2:47 of the third and the score stayed that way until Bossy sealed the deal at 15:36 of the third.

Here are some highlights, called by the legendary Danny Gallivan and Dick Irvin for Hockey Night in Canada.  It was the last game of Gallivan's career:

Here's a different view, from USA Network, with Dan Kelly, Gary Green and Al Trautwig:



“This is the toughest grind I have ever had in my whole life”, Potvin told Newsday’s Helene Elliott. The Isles were battling a long list of injuries and defeated Montreal despite not having Stefan Persson and Dave Langevin in the lineup.

Billy Smith, playing his 28^th consecutive playoff game, made 22 saves for the victorious Islanders, who advanced to meet Edmonton for the second straight year as the “Drive for Five” continued.  Unfortunately, this time there would be a different outcome.

Also on this date: (1979) Anders Hedberg scored the winning goal with 2:13 to play as the Rangers grabbed a 3-2 lead in their semi-final series with the Islanders with a 4-3 win.  The Isles erased three separate 1-goal Ranger leads before Hedberg scored the winner.  

Here are Tim Ryan and Stan Fischler on the call:



The Rangers eliminated the Isles three days later at Madison Square Garden; it was the Isles’ last playoff defeat in half a decade.

Also on this date (2013) In the first Coliseum playoff game for many of the current Islanders, Chris Kunitz scored a power play goal at 8:44 of overtime as the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Isles 5-4 to take a 2-game to 1 lead in their Eastern Conference Quarter-Final series.

Read more about the game, here:

http://www.nyiskinny.com/2013/05/the-skinny-pittsburgh-5-isles-4-ot.html

Or watch the highlights,as called by Dave Strader and Brian Engblom:

All-time, the Isles played four playoff games on May 5th at the Coliseum; they compiled a 1-3 playoff record on this date at 1255 Hempstead Turnpike in Uniondale.