Posts About "Billy Smith"
Last Islander to Win Each NHL Award
July 27th, 2020 The New York Islanders had one of the best dynasties in all of sports in the 1980s. They won four Stanley Cups and won 19 straight playoff series with some of NHL's best players. Since then, New York went through some rough seasons, but are back contending for a Stanley Cup. With the 2019-20 regular season over and the Islanders'...
They Wore it Once: Islanders Players and Their Unique Numbers
July 21st, 2020 The New York Islanders have retired eight numbers that will not be worn again. They also have 15 players who wore a number that has only been used once. Let's take a look back at those 15 members and the impact they had on the team. Number 31: Billy Smith There is a reason why Billy Smith is the only player to wear number 31, and...
One for the Ages: Billy Smith's 1981-82 NHL Season
June 23rd, 2020 Unless you played for the New York Islanders or were a fan of the team, you despised Billy Smith. He was mean and ornery to say the least, and wielded his goalie stick like some sort of wild hatchet man. No opposing player was safe around Smith's goal crease. Whether it was a butt end close to the eye of Lindy Ruff or a chop to "The...
Bill Torrey: How 'The Architect' Constructed a Dynasty
March 3rd, 2020 On Saturday, March 9, 2019, the New York Islanders held Bill Torrey Appreciation Night at Nassau Coliseum. Torrey, who passed away on May 3, 2018, was known as “The Architect” thanks to his shaping of the league’s newest franchise into one of the all-time great NHL dynasties within a decade of the team’s formation. Bill...
New York Islanders' Greatest of All-Time
February 5th, 2020 On Feb. 4, 1978, Hockey Hall of Famer and a member of the 100 Greatest NHL Players club, Mike Bossy, recorded the first hat trick of his NHL career as the New York Islanders won 6-1 over Washington. In honour of that first of many accomplishments, we have pulled this nugget from the THW Archives, written by former THW contributor...
Revisiting the Islanders' 1979-80 Team
January 18th, 2020 As the New York Islanders get set to honor their first Stanley Cup-winning team on Saturday night against the Florida Panthers, we take a look back at what the team was able to accomplish during the 1979-80 season. The team consisted of seven future Hockey Hall of Famers in Mike Bossy, Bryan Trottier, Clark Gillies, Denis Potvin and...
New York Islanders' All-Time Starting Lineup
December 1st, 2019 The New York Islanders have been blessed with a lot of elite talent since their inception in 1972. Some of those players even made it to the Hall of Fame, though they consist of players from the dynasty-era in the early 1980s. Recent articles about all-time rosters got me thinking about the Islanders, but I decided to narrow it down to...
Islanders' 5 Greatest Wins
September 20th, 2019 The New York Islanders are definitely one of the most unique franchises in all of the NHL. They go from the last team to win four straight Stanley Cups to a team that has two home arenas. Whether it’s trades they make or free agents they sign, people are always questioning the Islanders. One thing for sure is that this franchise has...
Top 3 Goalies in Islanders History
September 2nd, 2019 The New York Islanders have played 46 seasons in the NHL, and in that time 51 different individuals have suited up at the goaltender position. Throughout that history, goaltending has been the linchpin of the great Islander teams. So here we go, taking a look at the great goaltenders in Islanders history. Honorable Mention To...
Rivalry Renewed: The Battle of New York
October 19th, 2017 One of the best rivalries in the National Hockey League resumes Thursday when the New York Islanders face the New York Rangers in Round One of the Battle of New York for the 2017-18 season. Both teams have gotten off to sluggish starts this season. The Islanders are 2-3-1 for five points and are coming off a California trip that saw...
Looking Back: Islanders Cup-Free Since '83
April 26th, 2016 Moving forward in the Stanley Cup playoffs, The Hockey Writers will be taking a short look at the past successes of the final eight teams left in the postseason. When was the last time they reached the Stanley Cup Finals? How long has it been since they hoisted the Cup? Starting in the Eastern Conference, the New York Islanders let...
The New York Islanders Franchise Four
September 30th, 2015 The Franchise Four. The Mount Rushmore. Four players who tell the story of an organization. In this series I’ll be taking a look at the history of all 30 NHL squads. For criteria, I’m choosing one forward, defenceman, goaltender and a wild card from any position. Since entering the NHL in 1972, the New York Islanders have won four...
An Open Letter To Al Arbour
February 1st, 2015 Dear Al Arbour; By now, most - if not all - of Islanders Country has heard about your state of health. As a sign of respect from classy and loyal Islanders and hockey fans, many individuals have taken up writing to you, and THW would like to do much of the same for a person that has left an indelible mark on Long Island...
