Eight Seconds of History: Lafontaine’s Record-Breaking Night for the Islanders

Pat Lafontaine wasted little time making history during his first full NHL season with the New York Islanders.

The 1984-85 campaign marked Lafontaine’s first complete year in the league after joining the Islanders late in 1983-84, fresh off representing the United States at the Winter Olympics. Limited to just 67 of New York’s 80 games, Lafontaine still managed 19 goals, including a blistering two-goal burst that rewrote the Islanders’ record book.

On February 16, 1985, the Islanders hosted the Hartford Whalers at Nassau Coliseum. Despite sitting at -opposite ends of the standings, Hartford proved stubborn, and the game ultimately ended in a 4-4 tie.

With the Islanders trailing 3-1, Lafontaine struck at 8:53 of the second period, beating goaltender Greg Millen with assists from Tomas Jonsson and Dave Langevin. Just eight seconds later, at 9:01, Lafontaine struck again, this time assisted by Pat Flatley and Greg Gilbert, tying the game and setting a new franchise record for the fastest two goals by a single player.

The previous Islanders record of 10 seconds had been set by Clark Gillies during the 1974-75 season. Lafontaine’s eight-second burst erased it.

Both teams traded goals in the third period, and the game finished deadlocked at four, but the night belonged to the young Islanders center.

Lafontaine went on to compile an extraordinary NHL career, scoring 468 regular-season goals in just 865 games between 1983-84 and 1997-98 with the New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres. He recorded six consecutive seasons with at least 41 goals, including two 50-goal campaigns, 54 goals with the Islanders in 1989-90 and 53 with the Sabres in 1992-93, cementing his legacy as one of the era’s most dangerous scorers.

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Pat Lafontaine Finds His NHL Groove in Just His Second Game with the Islanders

Pat Lafontaine wasted little time proving he belonged in the NHL. Less than two weeks after representing the United States at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Yugoslavia, the highly touted rookie was already making his presence felt with the New York Islanders.

Selected third overall in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft, behind Brian Lawton and Sylvain Turgeon, Lafontaine joined a veteran Islanders lineup late in the 1983-84 season. Despite appearing in just 15 regular-season games, he produced an impressive 13 goals and 19 points, an early sign of the elite scoring touch that would define his career.

Lafontaine’s second NHL game, played on March 3, 1984, came at Maple Leaf Gardens against the Toronto Maple Leafs. In classic high-scoring 1980s fashion, the Islanders erupted for an 11-6 road victory and Lafontaine stole the spotlight.

At 11:31 of the first period, he scored his first NHL goal, beating Allan Bester with assists from Bob Bourne and Denis Potvin. Before the opening frame ended, Lafontaine added his first NHL assist, setting up John Tonelli as New York piled on four first-period goals.

The rookie wasn’t finished. In the third period, Lafontaine recorded three more points in a span of just over eight minutes. He scored his second goal at 4:05 against Rick St. Croix, picked up another assist on a Tonelli goal at 11:22, and completed his first NHL hat trick at 12:14. When the dust settled, Lafontaine had five points in just his second NHL appearance.

That explosive night was an early glimpse of what would become a remarkable NHL career. Between 1983-84 and 1997-98, Lafontaine scored 468 regular-season goals while starring for the Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, and New York Rangers. He reached the 50-goal mark twice, highlighted by a career-best 54-goal season in 1989-90. In recognition of his achievements, Pat Lafontaine was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003.

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John Tonelli Hits 100 Points in Dramatic Fashion in Islanders’ 1984-85 Finale

John Tonelli reached a major personal milestone in unforgettable fashion during the final game of the 1984-85 NHL season, becoming just the fifth player in New York Islanders history to record a 100-point campaign. Alongside teammate Brent Sutter, Tonelli joined an exclusive club previously occupied only by Mike Bossy, Denis Potvin, and Bryan Trottier. Since then, only Pat LaFontaine and Pierre Turgeon have managed the feat in an Islanders uniform.

Tonelli’s path to 100 points was anything but easy. After being shut out along with the rest of the Islanders in a 3–0 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 79, Tonelli entered the season finale stuck at 99 points. The April 6, 1985 matchup against the New Jersey Devils at Nassau Coliseum appeared to be slipping away as the third period wound down without a goal, and New Jersey clung to a 5-4 lead.

With just 48 seconds remaining in regulation, Tonelli delivered when it mattered most. He scored his 42nd goal of the season against Devils goaltender and former Islander Glenn Resch, with assists from Mike Bossy and Clark Gillies. The goal not only tied the game but also gave Tonelli his long-awaited 100th point. Overtime failed to produce a winner, and the contest ended in a 5-5 tie, but the moment belonged to Tonelli.

Brent Sutter also played a key role in Islanders history during the 1984-85 season. He finished with 102 points, collecting an assist in the finale. Sutter reached the 100-point mark earlier, on March 12, 1985, during a road win over the St. Louis Blues in which he recorded four points. His total could have been even higher if not for missing ten late-season games before returning for the final two contests.

About John Tonelli

John Tonelli played 1,028 regular season and 172 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1978-79 and 1991-92 with the New York Islanders, Calgary Flames, Los Angeles Kings, Chicago Blackhawks and Quebec Nordiques. 

The four-time Stanley Cup champion was originally drafted by the Islanders in the second round of the 1977 NHL Amateur Draft but started his major league career in the WHA. Between 1975-76 and 1977-78, Tonelli played 224 regular season and 34 playoff games in the World Hockey Association, all with the Houston Aeros.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: John Tonelli

Much more NHL hockey trivia can be found at our website: World's Best Hockey Trivia

1. Which NHL team originally drafted John Tonelli?

Toronto Maple Leafs
New York Islanders
Montreal Canadiens
Chicago Blackhawks

2. How many Stanley Cups did John Tonelli win during his NHL career?

Two
Three
Four
Five

3. During which season did John Tonelli record his only 100-point campaign?

1980-81
1984-85
1982-83
1986-87

4. Against which former New York Islanders goaltender did Tonelli score his 100th point?

Billy Smith
Glenn Resch
Chico Resch
Ron Hextall

5. Which Original Six team did John Tonelli play for late in his NHL career?

Chicago Blackhawks
Boston Bruins
Detroit Red Wings
New York Rangers