Before Mike Bossy: The Islanders’ Long Island Lighting Company

Before Mike Bossy joined the New York Islanders, Bryan Trottier, Clark Gillies and Billy Harris were already giving opposing goaltenders plenty to worry about. Known as the Long Island Lighting Company, the trio combined for 98 goals and 128 assists in 1975-76. Their 226 points came from three players at different stages of their development: Trottier was a rookie, Gillies was in his second NHL season, and Harris was the franchise’s original first overall draft pick.

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Highlights

• Trottier, Gillies and Harris combined for 98 goals and 226 points in 1975-76.

• Trottier won the Calder Trophy after a 95-point rookie season.

• Gillies scored at least 30 goals six times during his NHL career.

• Harris was the first draft selection in Islanders history.

• Bossy’s 53-goal rookie season in 1977-78 reshaped New York’s top line.

• Harris and Dave Lewis were traded for Butch Goring shortly before the Islanders’ first championship.

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Their combined goal total slipped to 87 in 1976-77, and Bossy’s arrival the following season changed the Islanders’ offensive identity. With Bossy scoring 53 goals as a rookie, Trottier surged to 123 points and Gillies contributed 35 goals and 85 points. Harris remained a productive player, but his place alongside two future Hall of Famers had become part of Islanders history.

Bryan Trottier

Selected in the second round of the 1974 NHL Amateur Draft, Bryan Trottier spent another season in junior hockey before joining the Islanders. He piled up 46 goals and 98 assists for 144 points with the Lethbridge Broncos in 1974-75, then made an immediate NHL impact with 32 goals and 95 points in his Calder Trophy-winning rookie season. Trottier went on to record six 100-point seasons with New York and win the Art Ross, Hart and Conn Smythe trophies. Between 1975-76 and 1993-94, he played 1,279 regular season games and 221 playoff games with the Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins, winning four Stanley Cups with New York and two more with Pittsburgh. He entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997, and the Islanders retired his number 19 in 2001.

Clark Gillies

The Islanders selected Clark Gillies fourth overall in the 1974 NHL Amateur Draft after three seasons with the Regina Pats. He moved directly into the NHL and scored 25 goals as a rookie in 1974-75, bringing a combination of scoring ability and physical strength that would become essential to New York’s success. Gillies reached 30 goals six times, setting his career high with 38 in 1981-82, and served as captain from during the 1976-77 season until 1979. A member of all four Islanders championship teams, he finished his NHL career with 958 regular season games and 164 playoff appearances between 1974-75 and 1987-88, playing for New York and the Buffalo Sabres. His number 9 was retired in 1996, and he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2002.

Billy Harris

Billy Harris became the first draft pick in Islanders history when New York selected him first overall in 1972. He arrived after a standout final season with the Toronto Marlboros, scoring 57 goals and 129 points to win the Eddie Powers Trophy as the league’s leading scorer. Harris scored 28 goals as an NHL rookie and finished third in Calder Trophy voting behind Steve Vickers and Bill Barber. He scored at least 23 goals in each of his first five seasons, including a career-best 32 during the Long Island Lighting Company’s memorable 1975-76 campaign, and added 22 in his sixth.

Bossy’s arrival changed Harris’s role, and his Islanders career ended just before the franchise’s greatest years. On March 10, 1980, New York traded Harris and defenceman Dave Lewis to the Los Angeles Kings for Butch Goring, whose arrival helped the Islanders capture the first of four consecutive Stanley Cups. Harris finished his NHL career with 897 regular season games and 71 playoff appearances between 1972-73 and 1983-84 with the Islanders, Kings and Toronto Maple Leafs. Although he missed out on the championships, his contribution to building the Islanders into contenders deserves to be remembered.

All Roads Home: A Life On and Off the Ice

The autobiography of Bryan Trottier — his journey through hockey greatness and life beyond the rink.

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Bryan Trottier Wins It With One Second Left Against the Flyers

With just one second remaining in regulation, Bryan Trottier completed an improbable New York Islanders comeback against the Philadelphia Flyers.

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Highlights

• January 17, 1986, at the Philadelphia Spectrum

• Flyers led 3-1 after two periods

• Mark Hamway started the Islanders’ comeback

• Brent Sutter tied the game at 3-3

• Bryan Trottier scored with one second remaining

• Mike Bossy and Greg Gilbert assisted on the winning goal

• Billy Smith made 21 saves in the 4-3 victory

• Trottier’s winner was his 21st goal of the season

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On January 17, 1986, the Flyers hosted the Islanders at the Spectrum in Philadelphia. The home team carried a comfortable 3-1 lead into the second intermission after goals from Brian Propp, Dave Poulin and Ilkka Sinisalo. Poulin’s goal came while Philadelphia was shorthanded.

The Islanders Rally in the Third Period

New York began its comeback just 2:20 into the third period. Mark Hamway scored his fourth goal of the 1985-86 season, assisted by Gord Dineen and Duane Sutter, to reduce the Flyers’ lead to one.

Just over ten minutes later, Duane’s brother Brent Sutter tied the game at 3-3. His ninth goal of the season beat Philadelphia goaltender Bob Froese, with Mikko Makela and Denis Potvin earning the assists.

Bryan Trottier Beats the Clock

With overtime appearing inevitable, Bryan Trottier delivered the winning goal at the last possible moment. Trottier scored his 21st of the season with only one second remaining, giving the Islanders a dramatic 4-3 victory. Mike Bossy and Greg Gilbert assisted on the goal, which came on Trottier’s third shot of the night.

Froese and Islanders goaltender Billy Smith each faced 24 shots, with “Battlin’ Billy” making one additional save. Bossy, Gilbert and Potvin recorded two points apiece for New York, while Mark Howe and Brian Propp did the same for Philadelphia. Tim Kerr led all players with six shots on goal but was kept off the scoresheet.

One second was all Bryan Trottier needed to turn a likely overtime game into an unforgettable Islanders victory.

All Roads Home: A Life On and Off the Ice

The autobiography of Bryan Trottier — his journey through hockey greatness and life beyond the rink.

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Mike Bossy Makes NHL History as the First Rookie (and Islander) to Reach 50 Goals

When the New York Islanders welcomed the Washington Capitals to Nassau Coliseum on April 1, 1978, everyone in the building knew what was at stake. Rookie sensation Mike Bossy entered the game sitting on 49 goals, just one away from becoming the first player in Islanders history, and the first rookie in NHL history, to reach the coveted 50-goal milestone.

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Highlights

• Mike Bossy entered the game with 49 goals.

• Scored his historic 50th goal on April 1, 1978.

• Became the first Islanders player to reach 50 goals.

• First NHL rookie ever to score 50 goals.

• Added his 51st goal with five seconds remaining.

• Islanders rallied for a 3-2 victory over Washington.

• Finished his rookie season with 53 goals.

• Began a streak of nine consecutive 50-goal seasons.

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For more than two periods, Washington goaltender Bernie Wolfe kept Bossy off the scoresheet. The rookie finally broke through at 11:52 of the third period, firing a power-play goal past Wolfe while Bill Riley served a tripping penalty. Bryan Trottier and Denis Potvin picked up the assists as the Nassau Coliseum crowd erupted in celebration.

Bossy wasn't finished. With just five seconds remaining, he struck again on another power play, scoring his 51st goal of the season with Bryan Watson in the penalty box for holding. Clark Gillies and Potvin assisted on the game-winning goal, completing a dramatic comeback as New York erased a 2-1 deficit to defeat the Capitals 3-2.

Despite the loss, Bernie Wolfe turned in an outstanding performance for Washington, stopping 41 shots, including 11 from the stick of Denis Potvin. At the other end, Glenn Resch faced only 18 shots, surrendering goals to Guy Charron and Tom Rowe.

Bossy finished his remarkable rookie campaign with 53 goals, shattering Rick Martin's rookie record of 44 set during the 1971-72 season. The achievement launched one of the greatest goal-scoring careers in NHL history, as Bossy recorded nine consecutive 50-goal seasons. More than four decades later, only four NHL rookies have ever scored 50 goals in their first season. Teemu Selanne set the all-time rookie record with 76 goals in 1992-93, while Joe Nieuwendyk and Alex Ovechkin are the only others to join Bossy in the exclusive club.

Rangers vs. Islanders: Denis Potvin, Mark Messier, and Everything Else You Wanted to Know about New York's Greatest Hockey Rivalry

Explore the fierce rivalry between the New York Rangers and New York Islanders, featuring legendary figures, unforgettable clashes, and the moments that defined one of hockey’s most intense matchups.

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Crazy 8’s on Long Island: Mike Bossy Scores Four in Historic 8–8 Tie With Oilers

On March 3, 1981, the Edmonton Oilers and New York Islanders delivered one of the wildest offensive showcases in NHL history. Sixteen total goals lit up the Nassau Coliseum scoreboard as the two clubs skated to an 8-8 tie, the NHL’s first 8-8 draw in 45 years.

The last time a game ended with that score was February 16, 1936, when the Montreal Maroons and New York Americans battled to a similar deadlock. Nearly half a century later, two teams that helped usher in hockey’s modern offensive era revived the rare result.

Mike Bossy was at the center of the madness. The Islanders’ superstar scored four goals on just four shots, netting goals No. 58 through 61 of his remarkable 1980-81 season. Despite the goal explosion, Edmonton goaltender Eddie Mio faced only 24 shots, while Islanders netminder Billy Smith was tested far more frequently, turning aside shots among the 41 he faced.

After forty minutes, New York appeared to be in control, holding a 6-4 lead. But the Oilers exploded in the third period. In a blistering 4:09 span, Edmonton scored four times to seize an 8-6 advantage. Wayne Gretzky tallied his second goal of the night, his 44th of the season, as part of a four-point performance. He was joined on the scoresheet by Glenn Anderson, Jari Kurri, and Mark Messier, each finishing the night with four points.

The Islanders weren’t finished.

Just 47 seconds after Kurri gave Edmonton its two-goal cushion, Bossy struck again to pull New York within one. With time winding down, Anders Kallur completed the comeback, tying the game at 18:14 of the third period with helpers from Héctor Marini and Wayne Merrick.

Bossy also added an assist earlier in the game on Steve Tambellini’s second-period goal, giving him a five-point night in one of the most unforgettable regular-season games of the era. The final horn sealed an 8-8 tie, a fitting result for a night that perfectly captured the free-wheeling, high-octane style that defined early-1980s NHL hockey.

Stories From The Epic History Of NHL Hockey (Volume IV)

Dive into unforgettable tales from NHL history — the biggest moments, legendary players, and classic rivalries.

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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.

Deal With It: The Trades That Shook Hockey & How They Changed The Game

A fascinating look at the blockbuster trades that reshaped NHL history, revealing the stories, strategies, and consequences behind the deals that changed teams — and the game itself.

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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

Bryan Trottier’s Historic 8-Point Night Against Rangers in 1978

The New York Islanders were already a powerhouse in the 1978-79 season, dropping only four games by the time they hosted the rival New York Rangers on December 23, 1978. On that night, Bryan Trottier gave Islanders fans an unforgettable early Christmas gift with one of the greatest single-game performances in franchise and NHL history.

Trottier recorded eight points on five goals and three assists, breaking his own Islanders record of five points in a game, set just a year earlier in 1977. His six points in the second period alone still stand as an NHL record for most points in a single period, later tied by Mika Zibanejad of the Rangers decades later.

The scoring started modestly, with Trottier netting one in the first period before the game stood tied 1-1. Then came the Islanders’ second-period explosion. New York’s goalie Wayne Thomas was overwhelmed as Trottier scored three goals in the frame and set up Mike Bossy twice and Garry Howatt once. By the end of the period, the Isles had buried seven goals, with Trottier firmly in the spotlight.

Trottier capped off his incredible night with his fifth goal early in the third period. While the Rangers clawed back with a pair of late goals, the Islanders skated off with a 9-4 victory. Bossy chipped in five points of his own, and Garry Howatt completed the Gordie Howe Hat Trick with a goal, an assist, and a third-period fight. For the Rangers, Ron Greschner did his best to keep things respectable, scoring twice in the loss.

About Bryan Trottier

Bryan Trottier played 1,279 regular season and 221 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1975-76 and 1993-94 with the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins. He won six Stanley Cup championships, four with New York and two with Pittsburgh.

Trottier was the Calder Trophy winner in 1975-76 as NHL rookie of the year. Other accolades include an Art Ross Trophy, Hart Trophy and Conn Smythe Trophy. Bryan was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997.

NHL Hockey Trivia: Bryan Trottier

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

1. Bryan Trottier won the Calder Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year in which season?

A) 1973-74
B) 1974-75
C) 1975-76
D) 1976-77

2. How many Stanley Cups did Bryan Trottier win during his playing career?

A) 4
B) 6
C) 7
D) 8

3. Trottier won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP in which season?

A) 1977-78
B) 1978-79
C) 1979-80
D) 1980-81

4. Which superstar winger formed a legendary scoring duo with Trottier on the Islanders?

A) Mike Bossy
B) Clark Gillies
C) Pat LaFontaine
D) Denis Potvin

5. How many career NHL regular season points did Trottier finish with?

A) 1,280
B) 1,425
C) 1,565
D) 1,704

How Lanny McDonald Joined Hockey’s Elite 60-Goal Club

On March 16, 1983, the Calgary Flames had little to celebrate in Buffalo, dropping a 5-3 decision to the Sabres. But one goal that night would make history.

With just two minutes left in the second period, Lanny McDonald scored his 60th of the season against Bob Sauvé. It was a milestone that put him in rare company with legends like Phil Esposito, Mike Bossy, Wayne Gretzky, Guy Lafleur, and more. Despite Calgary’s loss, McDonald etched his name into the franchise record book.

That 60th goal was just the start of his historic finish. Over the Flames’ final eight games of 1982-83, McDonald added six more goals to close the season with 66, a single-season team record that still stands today.

Even with that total, McDonald trailed behind Wayne Gretzky’s remarkable 71-goal campaign, while Mike Bossy also joined the 60-goal club with an even 60.

McDonald carried his scoring touch into the playoffs, notching three goals and seven points in seven games. Paul Reinhart led the Flames in playoff scoring with six goals, as Calgary swept Vancouver before bowing out to the powerhouse Oilers in round two.

About Lanny McDonald

Lanny McDonald played 1,111 regular season and 117 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1973-74 and 1988-89 with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Rockies and Calgary Flames. The 500 goal scorer was a Stanley Cup champion with the Flames in 1988-89. McDonald was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1992.

Quiz: The Career of Lanny McDonald

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

1. In which year did Lanny McDonald score his career-high 66 goals, setting the Calgary Flames single-season record?

1980-81
1981-82
1982-83
1983-84

2. Before joining the Calgary Flames, which NHL team did Lanny McDonald spend most of his early career with?

Toronto Maple Leafs
Colorado Rockies
Montreal Canadiens
New York Rangers

3. Which milestone did Lanny McDonald achieve during his final NHL season in 1988-89?

500th career assist
1,000th career point
1,500th game played
500th career goal

4. Lanny McDonald retired as a Stanley Cup champion. Which year did he win the Cup with Calgary?

1986
1987
1989
1990

5. Known for his iconic moustache, Lanny McDonald was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in which year?

1990
1992
1995
1997

1979-80 O-Pee-Chee NHL: Beyond Wayne Gretzky

The 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee hockey card series is forever known as the set that includes the Wayne Gretzky rookie card. Although not the most valuable hockey card in the history of the hobby, considering when it was produced and in what great numbers, the Gretzky card, at $800, is one of the most coveted treasures among collectors.

The complete set of 396 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee hockey cards is valued at around $1400. Just what cards other than the Gretzky rookie card account for the rest of the set’s value? It turns out, there is nothing enormously outstanding but still there are some important cards.

Gordie Howe

The next most valuable card in the series belongs to Gordie Howe. The 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee #175 of Howe with the Hartford Whalers is the final card ever produced of ‘Mr. Hockey’. The card is valued at $30. This is a far cry from his first card that came out three decades before. The 1951-52 Parkhurst Gordie Howe rookie card is valued at $3000.

Bobby Hull

Card number 185 belonged to another NHL legend in his final season. Bobby Hull of the Winnipeg Jets is valued at $25 on cardboard. Just like the Gordie Howe rookie card, the 1958-59 Topps Bobby Hull rookie card is also valued at $3000. Interestingly, the Topps version of the 1979-80 Bobby Hull card shows him as a member of the Chicago Black Hawks. In the end, Hull split his final season in the National Hockey League with the Jets and Hartford Whalers.

Mike Bossy

Mike Bossy’s great NHL career was just blossoming in 1979-80, only to be overshadowed by the accomplishments of Gretzky. The New York Islanders sniper was featured on card number 230. The card is valued at $20. 1979-80 was the third of Bossy’s ten seasons in the NHL. His career was cut short due to injury and he left the game surpassing the 50 goal plateau in every season but his last.

Barry Melrose

The next highest rated rookie card from the 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee series, behind Gretzky’s, is one for the trivia books. Believe it or not, the Barry Melrose rookie card, number 386, is valued at $10, $4 more than the next most valuable rookie. Melrose had played 178 games in the World Hockey Association with the Cincinnati Stingers over the three previous seasons. He came to the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets and played a total of 300 regular season NHL games between 1979-80 and 1985-86 with the Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings.

NHL Hockey Trivia: New York Islanders

The New York Islanders are a National Hockey League that began play in 1972-73 along with their expansion partners, the Atlanta Flames. The Islanders reached their pinnacle less than a decade later when they ruled the NHL with four consecutive Stanley Cup championships. Since, the organization has fallen into disarray but a move to Brooklyn may change the fortunes of the franchise.

Test and expand your knowledge of the NHL’s New York Islanders with these four hockey trivia questions.

Q. Which player is the New York Islanders all-time leader in regular season points?

A. Bryan Trottier contributed 1,353 points over his fifteen seasons in an Islanders jersey. Trottier was an essential part of the formula during the Stanley Cup streak of the 1980’s. Mike Bossy comes in second with 1,126 points. However, Bossy played just 752 games for the Islanders, compared to 1,123 for Trottier. Denis Potvin is the only other player in NYI history to top 1,000 points with 1,052 over 1,060 games.

Q. Who was the first team captain of the New York Islanders?

A. Ed Westfall was taken away from the Boston Bruins in the 1972 NHL Expansion Draft. Westfall had played eleven seasons with the Bruins before coming to New York. He served as captain until the end of the 1976-77 season. At the point, the ‘C’ was transferred to Clark Gillies. Westfall remained with the team for two more seasons and retired after the 1978-79 season, missing the New York’s first Stanley Cup victory by one year.

Q. What New York Islander holds the team record for the most goals in a single regular season?

A. Mike Bossy scored 69 goals in 1978-79. Bossy surpassed the 60 goal plateau on five occasions and scored less than 50 in only one season during his career, his last. Bossy is one of just four players in Islanders history to top the 50 goal plateau. Bryan Trottier scored 50 in 1981-82, Pat Lafontaine scored 54 in 1989-90 and Pierre Turgeon netted 58 in 1992-93.

Q. The number 9 is retired by the New York Islanders in honour of what player?

A. Clark Gillies was the fifth of six players to have their number retired by the Islanders.  Clark was a fourth overall pick of the Islanders at the 1974 NHL Entry Draft. Gillies played twelve seasons with the Islanders and two additional seasons with the Buffalo Sabres before retiring.

As metioned, he took over the captaincy of the Islanders from Ed Westfall for the 1977-78 season. That responsibility was transferred to Denis Potvin two years later. Gillies sits fourth all-time for the Islanders in goals, assists and points behind Bryan Trottier, Mike Bossy and Denis Potvin. Clark was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2002.