On the night when the Islanders organization brought back some of their Stanley Cup heroes, the current club just emphasized how far the franchise has fallen.
Hours after the Isles alumni pounded the Flyers alumni 7-3 in an exhibition game, the contemporary Islanders were clocked by the up-to-date Flyers, 5-1, before a sold-out Coliseum crowd of 16,297, about a quarter of which were raucous Philadelphia fans.
The alumni game was staged to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Isles’ first Stanley Cup victory in 1980, which came at the expense of the Flyers. Such Islander luminaries as Clark Gillies, Bobby Nystrom and current coach Butch Goring participated in the rout.
By continuing the momentum created in the alumni game, the nowadays Islanders played a stellar first period and took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Mariusz Czerkawski (team-high 24th) with 3:19 left.
But the decimated Flyers, who were without the injured Eric Lindros, Dan McGillis, Sandy McCarthy, Keith Primeau, Gino Odjick, Luke Richardson and Ulf Samuelsson, soared back with five unanswered goals, including a devastating four on the power play (out of six chances).
“We have to get a lot smarter with the penalties we’re taking,” said Goring, who had a much better night in the alumni game, scoring a goal. “That’s just going to kill you.”
John LeClair did his part in the slaughter by scoring two goals (his 32nd and 33rd), both coming with a man-advantage against goaltender Kevin Weekes, who sopped 30 shots. Daymond Langkow (15th, Simon Gagne (13th) and Craig Berube (1st) also scored for the Flyers, who are 5-0-1 in their last six games, including four straight victories.
The Isles, who have dropped three in a row, managed only 19 shots at John Vanbiesbrouck. By going 0-of-3 on the power play, the Isles are now 0-10 on the PP over the past two games.
“Guys are frustrated,” defenseman Jamie Rivers said. “We’re working so out there and it seems like we’re not getting anywhere.”
In a rare Coliseum appearance last night, former Isles great Mike Bossy said he would consider an offer to return to the club in an unspecified capacity.
“I’ve always said if the Islanders would be interested in retaining my services I’d be interesting in joining this organization again,” said Bossy, an NHL Hall of Famer and the club’s all-time leading goal scorer with 573.
Bossy, who retired in 1988, coached the Isles during the alumni game.
“It’s always nice to reminisce,” said Bossy, who lives in Montreal, where he works in public relations. “We brought a great amount of pride to Long Island.”
