New York Islanders Top 10 Moments – Nassau Coliseum [Video]

Flickr Creative Commons

#3 January 24th, 1981: 50 in 50

Mike Bossy solidified himself as a superstar in the NHL as he attacked the elusive record of scoring 50 goals in the teams first 50 games.  It hadn’t been done since Maurice “Rocket” Richard in 1945, back when the entire season was only 50 games.  Charlie Simmer of the Los Angeles Kings was also on pace for 50 in 50, and it seemed like a “competition” between Simmer and Bossy was brewing.

While Simmer would end up one game shy of the mark, Bossy needed almost every minute of all 50 games to do it. Richard was in the building that night as the Islanders took on the Quebec Nordiques.   Going into the third period of game #50 he was stuck on 48 goals, and since there was no overtime yet in the NHL regular season, each passing minute closed the window more and more.  The puck found him in the right place though, and Bossy lit the lamp twice late to clinch the mark, the second one coming with less than 2 minutes left in the game.  Wayne Gretzky would go on to obliterate the mark the following year, scoring 50 goals in 39 games, and “50 in 50” was also done by Mario Lemeiux and Brett Hull.

Even though it was done multiple times in the 1980s, 50 goals in 50 games is still regarded as one of the most prestigious feats in all of hockey.  Bossy still holds the NHL record for most consecutive 50 goal seasons, with nine.