Record-setting night in Boston

Howie and Chris mentioned late in the game that the Islanders were closing in on a club record for shots on game --54, set in 1994 in Hartford and equaled in 2004 in Florida. While they fell short of that record, the Isles outshot Boston 51-44 for the game [including 21-19 in the third period]. The 95 combined shots is the most in any regular season game in Islander history. The record-setting shot was taken by future Hall-of-Famer Brian Leetch, who launched a 142 foot slap shot just before the final horn. The previous record, 94, was set on October 12, 1993 in Los Angeles. The Isles outshot the Kings 51-43, but fell 7-5 to the Kings in the final game of their 1-3-0 season-opening road trip. One player who scored in that game also scored in this one: Alexei Zhitnik.

Bad....but historical... and a 25th anniversary worth noting

The Isles have now been outscored 12-1 in their last 2 home games. The -11 goal differential is the second worst in club history. In March 2000, the Islanders lost consecutive home games by an 8-2 score to Pittsburgh and New Jersey -- the latter game was Larry Robinson's Devil debut. Despite winning his first game, the Isles have been outscored 15-5 in three home games under Brad Shaw. It's the fourteenth time in club history that the Isles have been outscored by at least ten goals in a three home-game span. [Several of the previous streaks were overlapping.] The club record over three home games is -14, also set in March 2000. By the way, eleven of those fourteen streaks have occurred in the last ten seasons; the other three all occurred under Phil Goyette in the first 21 home games of the club's history. The Isles were NEVER outscored by ten goals in a three home-game stretch under Al Arbour. They lost three games by a combined 14-5 in early 1989 -- home games 7-9 of Arbour's second tenure. Speaking of Arbour, he was behind the bench 25 years ago tonight -- when Mike Bossy scored goals 49 and 50 in his 50th game, to tie Rocket Richard's record. The event was mentioned on tonight's Islander telecast and radiocast, and the Devils telecast. Ron Grahame, whose son John will represent Team USA was the goaltender who game up the milestone goal; Isles defensemen Stefan Persson had five assists -- one short of the still-standing club record, which was set two weeks earlier by Bossy. Finally, a sad and fond farewell to Tim Moriarty, a Hall of Fame writer who among other works authored "The Incredible Islanders", which chronicled the 1975 team. Moriarty, who retired from Newsday nearly two decades ago, pased away today at the age of 82. Forever1940 is the nom de plume of FSN statistician Eric Hornick. Eric is now in his 25th year as the statistician on Islander home telecasts and has also worked the Stanley Cup Finals four times. Often referred to on-air as an actuary, he is one of 2,782 Fellows of the Casualty Actuarial Society and is the Vice President of the Casualty Actuaries of Greater NY. You can find him in the "Best Seat in the House", about six feet to Howie and Joe's left, at most Islander home games. For more on the actuarial profession, visit www.beanactuary.org

Chateau bowwow

According to official statistics, Alexei Yashin did not play after his third period penalty. The penalty led to Ottawa's tying goal at 4:06 of the third period. Arron Asham did not see the ice in the first half of the third period after taking a coincidental penalty late in the second period.

NYI: Sad but true

For the second time this week, the Islanders lost in regulation time a game that they led heading to the third period. Their previous losses [in regulation] after leading after two periods came on: December 21, 2002 [Washington] and January 6, 2001 [Phoenix]. Thus, the Isles have gone pointless in two games they led after two periods in a three game stretch after having only done that once in the previous 322 games. The Isles have lost three games in the last five weeks that they led after two periods [counting their shootout loss on November 23 to Buffalo] That's three times in sixteen games after having lost only three times in the previous 309 games. [In addition to the games above, they lost in overtime to Pittsburgh on January 24, 2002.] The Isles finish December 5-6-1; it's their first losing December since 2001. They are below .500 at New Year's for the first time since 2000. It's only the second time in Islander history that they've ended December with a losing streak of at least 4 games. In 1997, the Rick Bowness-led Isles lost the final five games, and then book-ended it by losing the first five games of 1998. By early March of that season, Bowness was history too. Happy New Year to all!

It's been a long time since the Isles allowed this many goals...

The Isles have earned 0 points in the standings over three straight games for the first time in over a season, [7 straight in Nov/Dec 2003] and have allowed alot of goals doing so. [They lost four straight March, 2004, but one of those losses were in overtime] Tonight marked the fifth time this season and the tenth times in the Stirling regime that they have lost by at least four goals. Isles have allowed 27 goals in five games. It's the first time since Feb-Mar 1996 that they've allowed at least 27: 27-Feb-96 Vs Detroit 2 6 L 29-Feb-96 @ Detroit 1 5 L 1-Mar-96 @ New Jersey 2 6 L 3-Mar-96 Vs Winnipeg 5 7 L 5-Mar-96 Vs Boston 5 3 W

They haven't allowed more than 27 in a 5-game period since 1991-92: [28] 26-Dec-91 VsNew Jersey 5 5 T 28-Dec-91 Vs New York 5 4 W 29-Dec-91 @ Hartford 4 6 L 1-Jan-92 @ Washington 5 8 L 3-Jan-92 @ Buffalo2 5 L

Isles have allowed 31 goals in six games. It's the first time since Feb-March 1996 that they've allowed at least 31: 27-Feb-96 Vs Detroit 2 6 L 29-Feb-96 @ Detroit 1 5 L 1-Mar-96 @ New Jersey 2 6 L 3-Mar-96 Vs Winnipeg 5 7 L 5-Mar-96 Vs Boston 5 3 W 7-Mar-96 @ Boston 3 4 L They last allowed more than 31 over six during their last playoff-series winning season: [32] 7-Nov-92 Vs Tampa Bay 5 6 Lot 12-Nov-92 @ Philadelphia 5 8 L 14-Nov-92 Vs Buffalo 7 5 W 19-Nov-92 @ Boston 2 5 L 21-Nov-92 @ Calgary 4 3 W 22-Nov-92 @ Edmonton 5 5 T

They've allowed 35 in last 7 games -- first time since 1992-93: 12-Nov-92 @ Philadelphia 5 8 L 14-Nov-92 Vs Buffalo 7 5 W 19-Nov-92 @ Boston 2 5 L 21-Nov-92 @ Calgary 4 3 W 22-Nov-92 @ Edmonton 5 5 T 24-Nov-92 @ Winnipeg 3 3 T 27-Nov-92 @ Philadelphia 3 6 L They last allowed more goals in 7 games [38] in 1991-92 21-Dec-91 @ St. Louis 2 6 L 23-Dec-91 Vs Pittsburgh 3 6 L 26-Dec-91 VsNew Jersey 5 5 T 28-Dec-91 Vs New York 5 4 W 29-Dec-91 @ Hartford 4 6 L 1-Jan-92 @ Washington 5 8 L 3-Jan-92 @ Buffalo2 5 L

As bad as it's been, it's been worse: All-time Islander records: ----------------------------------- Most goals allowed --5 game stretch: 33 [in the first five road games in Islander history] 29-Oct-72 @ Boston 1 9 1-Nov-72 @ California 6 2 3-Nov-72 @ Vancouver 2 7 4-Nov-72 @ Los Angeles 2 9 8-Nov-72 @ Chicago 1 6 Most goals allowed --6 game stretch: 37, also in 1972-73 28-Oct-72 Vs Chicago 4 4 29-Oct-72 @ Boston 1 9 1-Nov-72 @ California 6 2 3-Nov-72 @ Vancouver 2 7 4-Nov-72 @ Los Angeles 2 9 8-Nov-72 @ Chicago 1 6

Most goals allowed --7 game stretch: 43 [twice in 1972-73] 29-Oct-72 @ Boston 1 9 1-Nov-72 @ California 6 2 3-Nov-72 @ Vancouver 2 7 4-Nov-72 @ Los Angeles 2 9 8-Nov-72 @ Chicago 1 6 11-Nov-72 @ Minnesota 0 3 14-Nov-72 Vs Montreal 2 7

and 3-Nov-72 @ Vancouver 2 7 4-Nov-72 @ Los Angeles 2 9 8-Nov-72 @ Chicago 1 6 11-Nov-72 @ Minnesota 0 3 14-Nov-72 Vs Montreal 2 7 16-Nov-72 @ Atlanta 0 4 18-Nov-72 Vs Boston 3 7

Assault on the record books

The Isles’ 9-6 loss in Toronto tonight produced a number of notations for the Islander record book: 

• 2 players with their first NHL/NYI goal: Godard and Collins 
• 3 PP goals in the first period –tying the club record set ten previous times, but not since 1996 
• 2 SH goals allowed in the second period-- tying the club record set three previous times, but not since 1996 
•  The eight first period goals were one short of the combined two-team record – 9 done on March 12, 1985 against St. Louis (2nd period) and November 23, 1988 against Washington (also 2nd period).
•  The Isles allowed at least seven goals for the first time since December 23, 2000 vs. Columbus 
• The Isles allowed at least eight goals for the first time since March 24, 2000 vs. New Jersey [ironically the night Larry Robinson became the Devils head coach for the first time] 
• The Isles allowed at least nine goals for the first time since December 30, 1999 at Pittsburgh [9-3 loss] 
• The Isles allowed at least seven goals on the road for the first time since December 30, 1999 at Pittsburgh [9-3 loss] 
• The Isles allowed at least eight goals on the road for the first time since December 30, 1999 at Pittsburgh [9-3 loss] 
•  The Isles allowed at least nine goals on the road for the first time since December 30, 1999 at Pittsburgh [9-3 loss] 
•  The teams combined for at least eleven goals for the first time since March 25, 2003 at Chicago [9-2 win] 
• The teams combined for at least twelve goals for the first time since January 3, 2003 at Boston [8-4 win] 
• The teams combined for at least thirteen goals for the first time since February 28, 1993 at Hartford [7-6 ot win] 
• The teams combined for at least fourteen goals for the first time since December 10, 1991 at St. Louis [7-7 tie]
• The teams combined for at least fifteen goals for the first time since April 6, 1986 at New Jersey [9-7 loss] 
• The Isles scored at least five goals and lost for the first time since December 23, 2000 vs. Columbus [7-5 loss], ending a 52-game unbeaten streak when scoring at least five [50-0-2] 
• The Isles scored at least six goals and lost for the first time since October 15, 1991 vs. Pittsburgh [7-6 ot loss], ending a 76-game unbeaten streak when scoring at least five [74-0-2] 
•  The Isles scored at least six goals on the road and lost for the first time since November 23, 1988 vs. Washington [7-6 loss]. It’s only the sixth time in Isles history that they’ve scored at least six goals in a road loss.

Trivia/Road Warriors

Who was the last Islander to record a six-point game? Pat LaFontaine -- February 6, 1990 @ Pittsburgh [3 goals, 3 assists in the only 8-7 game the Islanders have ever played -- Don Maloney won it in overtime] _______________________________________________ Road Warriors: The Isles now have 18 points [in 16 games] on the road and 11 points [in 11 games] at home. It's only the second time since 83-84 [the "Drive for Five" season] that the Isles have this many points through 16 road games -- they had 20 in Laviolette's first season. They've won four straight on the road for the first time since they opened the 2001-02 season 6-0 on the road. If the Isles win in Columbus, they'll have 9 more points on the road than at home for only the second time in their history -- In 2001-02, they opened with 4 road wins, lost in OT at home to Detroit and then won in Carolina -- to give them 10 points on the road and only one at home.