1974-75
When the New York Islanders entered the NHL in 1972-73 they were instantly immersed in a cross town rival in the New York Rangers. This wasn't a friendly rivalry or an on ice rivalry, this was all about the elder NHL franchise putting the screws to their younger brother.
When the Islanders entered it came with a significant franchise fee. Then the Rangers milked the Islanders for millions to cover territorial and and television indemnity. Islanders owner Ray Roe resented being bilked but he had no choice but to pay. (For anyone that believes that there will be a second franchise in Toronto. The Leafs would literally kill that in the grave by making it unaffordable).
The rivalry was further aggravated by the Ranger's dominance. In the early 70's the Rangers were one of the most powerful clubs in the NHL and they took great joy in trashing the Islanders at both the Nassau Coliseum and Madison Square Gardens.
Things began to change though in 1974-75, the Islanders made the playoffs for the first time, and fate would have it that they would face their cross town rivals in a best of 3 series.
Most experts and even Islander fans expected this to be a short but painful series for the upstarts, but something funny happened on the way to Broadway.
Game 1 followed the expected script, after 2 periods the Rangers were up 2-0, but goals by Bill Harris and Jean Potvin evened the scales. Then with 6 minutes remaining Big Clark Gilles fired a puck off of the Rangers goal post and into the net and the Islanders had one of their biggest wins in their short history.
Game 2 at Nassau was nasty, both in terms of penalties and on the score board as the Rangers mopped the ice with the Islanders and beat them 8-3. In game 3 in the Gardens the plucky upstarts roared out to a 3-0 lead and the Rangers fans seemed ready to riot.
But the Ranger's to their credit chipped back into the game on two goals by Bill Fairbairn. Then with 17 seconds last Steve Vickers beat Billy Smith to tie the game and send it to overtime.
Sudden Death Overtime was really sudden as the Islanders scored off of the opening faceoff on a deflection by Denis Potvin and the Islanders were suddenly the toast of New York and the Rangers and their fans were stunned.
The Islanders went into the second round and took on the Pens. The Islanders fell behind 3-0, but completed the rare comeback from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Pens. They then moved on to take on the Champion Flyers. Once again the Islanders lost the first 3 games, but rallied back to tie the series before the Flyers eliminated them with a 4-1 beating in game 7.
For the Flyers they went on to beat Buffalo in 6 games to win their second straight cup. For the Islanders their ascension to become one of the greatest dynasties in the NHL was just around the corner.
Trivia
- The NHL expands again welcoming the Kansas City Scouts and the Washington Capitals.
- The NHL Realigns to 4 divisions and two conferences. The Patrick and Smythe Division in the West in the Clarence Campbell Division and the Norris and Adam Divisions make up the Wales Conference.
- The Hall of Fame inducts 6 including players Billy Butch, Ace Coulter, Tom Dunderdale and Dickie Moore.
- The NHL introduces a 2 minute penalty for players who do not proceed immediately to the Penalty Box.
- The Capitals take Greg Joly with the number 1 pick who becomes one of the greatest draft flops in NHL History.
- NHL Amateur Draft https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1974_NHL_amateur_draft
- NHL Expansion Draft https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1974_NHL_expansion_draft
- WHL Draft https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1974_WHA_Amateur_Draft
- The Flyers dominate the Patrick Division racking up 113 points.
- The Vancouver Canucks win the Smythe Division with 83 points.
- Montreal wins the Norris Division with 113 points.
- Buffalo wins the Adams Division with 113 points.
- Bernie Parent of the Flyers leads all goalies with 44 wins and a 2.03 gaa.
- The Rangers trade Vic Hadfield to Pittsburgh, sign Derek Sanderson and name Gille Villemure as their starter.
- Bernie Geoffrion steps down as the coach in Atlanta, while rookie Eric Vail scores 39 goals.
- The Scouts are dreadful and win just 15 games, but they get 26 goals from rookie Wilf Paiement.
- Ken Dryden returns to Montreal after a year of making minimum wage as a Law Clerk and wins 47 games.
- Guy Lafleur emerges as a star as he scores 52 goals and 119 while looking so good.
- The Washington Capitals set NHL records for losses, longest losing streak (17), longest road losing streak (37 games) and goals against (446) as they finish with a dreadful 8-67-5 record.
- In Buffalo the French Connection comprised of Rick MArtin, Gil Perreault and Rene Robert score 131 goals and the Sabres set an NHL record with 6 30 goal scorers.
- Don Cherry steps behind the bench in Boston. Phil Esposito leads the league with 61 goals while Bobby Orr leads the league with 135 points. This is the last glory year for Bobby Orr as his knees begin to give out and he only plays 36 games in the next 3 season and ends his career in Chicago.
- The Seals edge closer to extinction and win just 19 games.
- On Dec 22, Phil Esposito scores his 500th goal.
- Philadelphia's Dave Schultz sets a new record with 472 penalty minutes.
- The WHA realigns into 3 divisions, The Canadian, Western and Eastern.
- Gordie Howe and his sons lead Houston to the Western Division Crown.
- The Quebec Nordiques take the Canadian Division.
- The New England Whalers take the Eastern Division.
- Bobby Hull forms a line with Anders Hedbery and Ulf Nilsson as Hull scores 77 goals for the Jets.
- Andrei Lacriox leads all scorers in the WHA with 157 points.
- In the Playoffs Houston beats Cleveland and San Diego to reach the WHA Finals.
- The Quebec Nordiques reach the finals by beating Phoenix and Minnesota.
- Houston sweeps Quebec 4-0 outscoring them 20-7 to win their second straight Avco Trophy.
- In the NHL opening round Toronto beats LA 2-1, Chicago takes out Boston 2-1, The Penguins oust St Louis 2-0, The Islanders upset the Rangers 2-1.
- In the Quarterfinals the Flyers brutalize the Leafs 4-0, Buffalo beats Chicago 4-1, The Habs beat the Canucks 4-1 and the Islanders beat Pittsburgh 4-3.
- In the Semi Finals The Sabers shock Montreal in 6 and the Flyers edge by the Islanders 4-3.
- The Flyers beat the Sabers in 6 for their second straight cup as Bob "Hound Dog" Kelly scores 11 seconds into the third period and Bernie Parent is perfect in a 2-0 shutout.
- Bernie Parent wins his second straight Smythe Trophy.
- Bobby Clarke wins the Hart Trophy.
- Atlanta rookie Eric Vail wins the Calder Trophy.
- Bobby Orr sets a record for consecutive trophies with his 8th straight Norris Trophy, Orr also takes the Lester B Pearson Award.
- Don Luce of Buffalo wins the Masterton.
- Kings coach Bob Pulford wins the Jack Adams award.
- Lead by OHA scoring leader Bruce Boudreau, the Tornton Marlies smoke their competition and win the Memorial Cup.
- Regina Goalie Ed Staniowski is the first winner of the Canadian Major Junior Player of the Year Award.
- Michigan Tech nerds their way to the NCAA Championship stomping on Minnesota.
Debuts
- Guy Chouinard, Atlanta Flames
- Danny Gare, Buffalo Sabres
- Charlie Simmer, California Golden Seals
- Wilf Paiement, Kansas City Scouts
- Dave Hutchison, Los Angeles Kings
- Clark Gillies, New York Islanders
- Bob Bourne, New York Islanders
- Rick Middleton, New York Rangers
- Ron Greschner, New York Rangers
- Bob MacMillan, New York Rangers
- Pierre Larouche, Pittsburgh Penguins
- Mario Tremblay, Montreal Canadiens
- Tiger Williams, Toronto Maple Leafs
- Harold Snepsts, Vancouver Canucks
Last Games
NOTE: Ullman would finish his major professional career in the World Hockey Association.