Eyes On Isles
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Islanders Core of the Four Lorne Henning: The player-coach

By Michel Anderson

UNIONDALE, NY - MARCH 02: Former New York Islanders legend Denis Potvin carries the Stanley Cup before the game against the Florida Panthers at the Nassau Coliseum March 2, 2008 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders are celebrating the 17 men that were part of all four Stanley Cup winning teams from 1980-1983. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NY - MARCH 02: Former New York Islanders legend Denis Potvin carries the Stanley Cup before the game against the Florida Panthers at the Nassau Coliseum March 2, 2008 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders are celebrating the 17 men that were part of all four Stanley Cup winning teams from 1980-1983. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 12: The ice, player’s bench, and spectator seating are empty prior to the Detroit Red Wings playing against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on March 12, 2020 in Washington, DC. Yesterday, the NBA suspended their season until further notice after a Utah Jazz player tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19). The NHL said per a release, that the uncertainty regarding next steps regarding the coronavirus, Clubs were advised not to conduct morning skates, practices or team meetings today. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 12: The ice, player’s bench, and spectator seating are empty prior to the Detroit Red Wings playing against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on March 12, 2020 in Washington, DC. Yesterday, the NBA suspended their season until further notice after a Utah Jazz player tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19). The NHL said per a release, that the uncertainty regarding next steps regarding the coronavirus, Clubs were advised not to conduct morning skates, practices or team meetings today. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

His Time With the Islanders

Lorne wasn’t flashy. He didn’t have the numbers that some of his teammates had. His most productive season in the NHL was 1978-79 where he scored 13 goals and 33 points.

What Lorne Henning brought to the team was a stable centerman that could play with and without the puck. Henning was the definition of a power killer before we started talking about power killers.

A quarter of the goals Henning scored in the NHL came while short-handed, with 18 of his 73 goals coming on the PK.

In 1976-77, Henning scored six short-handed goals and had eight short-handed assists. He had 31 points that season meaning 45 percent of his production came while his team was a numerical disadvantage. Wild.

From 1972 to 1979 (his last full regular season) he ranked seventh in the NHL for shorthanded goals with 18. Just in case you thought shorthanded goals may have been easier to come by in the 70s.

The 1980 playoff run was his last full run as a player. He played all 21 games as the Isles won their first of four Stanley Cups.

Of course, we can’t forget that Henning started the play that won them that cup by providing the outlet pass to John Tonelli in the neutral zone.

By the 80’s Lorne was transitioning from a playing career to one in coaching. He joined Al Arbour behind the bench as an assistant coach for the 1980-81 season. He played nine regular-season games and a single playoff game that season before joining Al behind the bench full-time and getting another two cups along the way.

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