It Happened at the Coliseum ... on March 9th

It's Bill Torrey Appreciation Night...and another huge game as the Isles look to recapture first place for the third time in five days.  (6:30 pre-game and 7:00 game-time.)

Here's how I presented "It Happened" four years ago..,, which features an Islander win over the Flyers!

It Happened at the Coliseum … on MARCH 9th

(1993) – Pierre Turgeon scored his 44th goal and added two assists, establishing a career high with 107 points, as the Islanders beat Philadelphia 4-2.

It was the Islanders’ fifth straight win, marking their longest win streak since a 9-game streak in 1989-1990.  With the win, the Isles (32-28-6) moved 4 games over .500 for the first since 1990.

Turgeon’s goal was sandwiched by Flyer tallies from Kevin Dineen Rod Brind’Amour.  Turgeon then earned assists on Tom Kurvers’ tying goal in the second period and Derek King’s lead goal with 4:19 to play. It was King’s 33rd goal of the season.

Benoit Hogue converted a shorthanded goal into an empty net for the final margin of history.  It was Hogue’s 30th goal of the season, marking the third straight season he reached that mark. It wasn’t an ordinary empty-netter, as the Islanders were two men short at the time, making it a 3-on-6 tally.

The win kept the Isles one point behind the fourth-place Rangers.  Pat Flatley noted, “Realistically, our playoffs have started in this division. It's a best-of-20 and I think we have to win about 15 of them." The Isles would win only eight of their remaining 18 games (8-9-1), and would finish with a 40-37-7 record.  That would be enough to get them into the playoffs, setting the stage for a memorable spring.

Here are some highlights, from ESPN's SportsCenter -- with Chris Berman!

Also on this date: (2013) – John Tavares scored a pair of power play goals 30 seconds apart, giving him 100 career goals as the Islanders beat Washington 5-2.  Tavares’ pair of power play goals were the third-fastest in Islanders history.  Only Clark Gillies (10 seconds; 3-29-75 vs. NYR) and Bryan Trottier (29 seconds; 2-13-82 vs. Philly) have done it faster.

Highlights with Howie and Butch:

All-time, the Isles have played nine March 9th games at the Coliseum and finish with a 5-2-2 record on this date at 1255 Hempstead Turnpike in Uniondale.