When the New York Islanders entered the NHL for the 1972-73 season, few imagined that just eight years later they would become a dynasty with four straight Stanley Cup championships. Their early years, however, were filled with growing pains and one December night in Pittsburgh highlighted just how far they had to go.
On December 13, 1972, the expansion Islanders came into the Civic Arena with a dismal 3-21-3 record, having already allowed nine or more goals three times. Against the Penguins, things quickly spiraled out of control. Pittsburgh fired nine unanswered goals past beleaguered New York goaltender Gerry Desjardins, who faced a staggering 55 shots on the night. The Islanders only avoided being shut out when they scored with six seconds left, barely spoiling Denis Herron’s quiet evening in the other crease.
The star of the night was Syl Apps Jr., who delivered the finest offensive performance of his 1972-73 season. Apps recorded a hat trick, his first of three career NHL hat tricks, while also setting up three more goals for a six-point masterpiece. His linemate Lowell MacDonald added two goals and two assists, while Al McDonough chipped in with a goal and three helpers.
For Apps, this game was one of the highlights of a productive campaign. Along with this six-point night, he notched a five-point game against Toronto and three four-point outings. His offensive flair reached another peak in December 1977, when he tallied his only career four-goal game against the Los Angeles Kings.
About Syl Apps
Syl Apps played 727 regular season and 23 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1970-71 and 1979-80 with the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Los Angeles Kings. He was a playoff champion with both the Omaha Knights in the CHL and the Buffalo Bisons in the AHL in 1969-70.
