It Happened at the Coliseum … on FEBRUARY 19th

8 years ago tonight (2007) – Mike Sillinger scored with 29 seconds to play to break a 5-5 tie as the Islanders rallied for a 6-5  President’s Day matinee victory over Pittsburgh before a near-sellout crowd, and in the process, ended a 16-game (14-0-2) Penguins point streak.

Ryan Malone scored in the first minute of each period for the Penguins while Mark Recchi scored Pittsburgh’s other two goals (and added three assists). The Penguins let 1-0 and 3-1 leads get away in this back-and-forth contest.  It was the second hat trick of the season for Malone against the Isles. Sidney Crosby added four assists.

Chris Simon had a pair of goals for the Isles, including the tying goal early in the third period.  It was the 13^th (and final) 2-goal game for Simon, and his only one in an Islander uniform.

Randy Robitaille added three assists as the Isles improved to 29-23-8 on the season and 7-2-4 since the All-Star break. Marc-Andre Bergeron, in his Islander debut, added two assists.

The winning goal came just seconds after Rick DiPietro had stopped a chance from Mark Recchi that would have given him a hat trick.  Trent Hunter then started a rush that ended with Sillinger reaching the 20-goal mark on the season.

“When you outscore (Pittsburgh), you know you’re doing something right”, Sillinger told the NY Times’ Dave Caldwell. 

Howie Rose and Billy Jaffe have the highlights.

Also on this date: (2011) – Al Montoya became the only goalie in Islander history to record a shutout in his first start with the team as the Isles blanked Los Angeles 3-0. Frans Nielsen scored a shorthanded goal and Matt Moulson scored twice (against his brother-in-law Jonathan Quick) for the Isles.

We have highlights of this one too, with Howie and Butch:

All-time, the Isles have played nine February 19th games at the Coliseum and have compiled a 7-2-0 record on this date at 1255 Hempstead Turnpike in Uniondale.  The tenth and final February 19th home game is tonight –as the Isles host Nashville at 7:00. Make sure you’re there, because after tonight, there are only 13 regular season games remaining.