Maven's Memories: Isles Take Step Forward in 1975-76

Can The Islanders Do It Again?

Over and over that question was asked as Al Arbour herded his skaters to their September training base in the Fall of 1975.
Many in the media wondered whether the Islanders would fall off the pedestal on which they rested. After all, they had marched all the way to the seventh game of the third playoff round during the previous Spring.
Looking backward, we find that some journalists viewed the miracle triumphs over the Rangers, Penguins and almost-the-Flyers as a surrealistic hockey mirage. Arbour knew all about that and wondered how his skaters would react to their headlines.

"Last season's experience will only help minimally," Arbour insisted. "How will it help? Now they know what it takes to get there."

Yet there was substantive reasons for optimism. The machine designed by Bow Tie Bill Torrey now featured an added -- rather unexpected -- cylinder in the form of rookie center Bryan Trottier.

Paired with fleet right wing Billy Harris and hulking Clark Gillies on the other side, Trottier, 19, instantly became a candidate for the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year. Meanwhile, third-year defenseman Denis Potvin was emerging as an All-Star.

"Denis runs the best power play in the league," said Rod Gilbert of the arch-rival Rangers. "You need somebody to direct traffic and he's the guy."

Meanwhile, the remaining veterans of the Original 1972-73 edition -- especially Ed Westfall, Gerry Hart, Lorne Henning and Bert Marshall -- still were performing in mint condition.

"The Islanders are better than last season," wrote Robin Herman of the New York Times. "Each week another group of Arbour's players seems to improve."

Reporter Herman was especially impressed with the fourth game of the Islanders season against the vaunted Montreal Canadiens. who already had scored 25 goals in their first three games.

Led by Hall of Famers Guy Lafleur, Jacques Lemaire and Ken Dryden, the Habs were en route to the first of four straight Stanley Cups. Which explains why the crowd at Nassau Veterans Coliseum appropriately was flabbergasted at what transpired.

After jumping into the "dreaded three-goal lead," the Nassaumen wound up conceding three to the Habs including the tying counter with 3:02 remaining in the third period. Not to be outdone, the Isles counterattacked on a power play after Trottier won a face-off in the visitors' zone.

The rookie ladled the puck to Jude Drouin who exchanged passes with Jean Potvin. On the second time around, Jean fired a wrist shot that handcuffed Dryden on the goalie's stick side They did it -- a 4-3 win over the winningest team in the league.

Writing in his book, "The Incredible Islanders," author Tim Moriarty -- he covered the game for Newsday -- called the crowd's tumultuous reaction, "One that matched anything that Coliseum fans turned on for a playoff game."

On the losers' side nothing but kudos were distributed for the Isles. "Give them credit," said Guy Lafleur. "they're good --very good."

The Isles excellence was reflected in their improved balance up and down the line but especially when it came to goaltending.

Although their puck-stopping styles were dramatically different, Bill Smith and Glenn Resch were equals in goal. Meanwhile, the defense -- anchored by Denis Potvin -- kept tightening in front of Smitty and Chico.

But the major improvement was up front as Trottier dazzled with his footwork, stick work and overall dominance at center. "He handles the puck like he owns it," said Denis Potvin.

Resch: "Bryan cuts through the slot and the goalie moves with him but he can fool you because he shoots well off either foot."

Trots' sidekicks never played better. Billy Harris was enjoying his best scoring year -- -- while Clark Gillies combined a mighty offense with a scary physical game.

"When Clark goes into the corner," laughed Denis Potvin, "he's like an 800-pound gorilla. He goes where he wants to go."

Up, up and away went the Isles. Early in December they consecutively knocked off the Sabres and North Stars, 3-0 and 6-0. Trots scored the winner in both games and Resch marveled at how well his club played in their first win over Buffalo.

"For me, the two shutouts was like a pitcher getting a no-hitter without striking out anybody," Chico commented. "The other guys did all the work."

The beat went on even with third-liners. Garry Howatt delivered a pre-Christmas present, with a three-goal hat trick in a 7-1 rout of the St. Louis Blues. On the checking side, Ed Westfall and Lorne Henning combined to form one of the league's top penalty-killing units.

Arbour's work was cut out for him but it mainly focused on producing the right line combinations beyond Trots, Gillies and Harris. Drouin, Henning and Andre St.Laurent comprised the centers with Bob Bourne champing at the bit on the Fort Worth farm.

Between the serious business of keeping pace with the Canadiens there always was time for levity. One of the lead humorists was Gillies who, after a practice, got the bright idea to slice Arbour's socks before the coach got to his locker.

Escaping in time, Jethro climbed into the physical therapy whirlpool from where he had a clear view of Radar's locker. Soon enough, the coach arrived, pulled on his socks -- and they went straight over his feet. After a suitable scream of disgust, Al sought the culprit.

Gillies: "He looked over at me in the whirlpool and said, 'I know you did it.' Of course, I denied it. But he picked up all my clothes and dumped them in the pool. 'That'll teach you,' he said."

Still perplexed, Clark insisted that Al reveal how he knew it was him, Jethro. "He told me something I never forgot: 'You can't fool me; I know everything.' And he did."

The coach certainly knew how to develop -- and maintain -- chemistry. Exhibit A was the manner in which he blended the diverse personalities of his goaltenders. High-strung and filled with superstitions, Bill Smith would not even allow teammates to talk to him on game day.

By contrast, the laid-back but voluble Glenn Resch would talk to any one at any time; but careful to stay away from Battlin' Billy on game day."We're both Number One," Chico noted. "Al made it clear that the fairest play would be for us to split things; and we did."

Their respective records underline the point: Resch: 23-11-8; 2.07. Smith: 19-10-9; 2.61. In another year, Chico would have been a favorite for the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year. Since, Trottier finished the campaign as the highest-scoring rookie in history, Bryan annexed the Calder.

As for the question posed back in September -- Can They Do It Again? -- it was answered by arithmetic.

Their 42-21-17 record was second only to the Stanley Cup Champion Flyers in the Patrick Division. While accenting defense, the Nassaumen still managed to produce four 30-goal scorers; Gillies, 34, Trottier, 32, Harris, 32 and Potvin, 31.

As Newsday's chronicler, Tim Moriarty, concluded, "In their forth season, the Islanders were still doing things in an incredible fashion!"

The playoffs were ahead; which meant yet another test of this amazing club's incredibility!

LISTS: TEN PLEASING DEVELOPMENTS IN THE 1975-76 REGULAR SEASON

1. TROTS WINS THE CALDER:At age 19 Bryan Trottier was an uncertain quality when he arrived in training camp. He finished the season establishing two NHL records; most points by a rookie, 95 and most assists by a rookie, 63.
2. HARRY LIVES UP TO NOTICES:When Bill Torrey drafted Billy Harris first overall in 1972, he was expected someday to be a star. The likable Torontonian reached that level in '75-76 with a career high 32 goals.
3. FINALLY A FABULOUS LINE: Once the line of Harris-Gillies-Trottier displayed arresting scoring abilities the media sought an appropriate nickname. The result -- The LILCO Line. That's LILCO for Long Island Lighting Company.
4. GOODWILL GOALTENDING: Under normal circumstances, NHL teams dress a
Number One puck-stopper and a back-up. Since Al Arbour couldn't decide between Bill Smith and Chico Resch, he divided the chores almost in half. Through it all Bill and Glenn remained pals.
5. PRECIOUS PK PERFORMERS:Ed Westfall always had been a superior defensive forward but he really showed his Captain's colors teaming with Lorne Henning. Together they became one of the best penalty-killing combos of the decade.
6. PREMIER POTSY:Based on his talent displayed as a rookie, it merely was a matter of time before Denis Potvin won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's defenseman. He won the award in June 1976, beating out a tough competitor, the Rangers Brad Park.
7. CHICO'S CHOICE: Several critics will tell you that Glenn Resch reached the apex of his goaltending career in '75-'76. Proof positive is that the fan favorite was named to the Second NHL All-Star Team behind Montreal's Ken Dryden who went on to win four straight Stanley Cups.
8. THE FORGOTTEN POTVIN: Jovial, savvy and not a bad defenseman in his own right, Jean Potvin's abilities often were overshadowed by his superstar kid brother. But Johnnie was a solid asset on and off the ice and a key on the club's power play.
9. MATURING MENTOR:Each season Al Arbour would seek ways and means to improve his coaching style. A high-tech pioneer. Radar was the first major league coach to employ video tape to analyze games and individual players. He employed his lovely wife, Claire as his aide.
10. A GENIUS BEHIND THE BOW TIE: Bill Torrey crafted a four-year-old team into a powerhouse. In 1975-76 the Isles reached the third post-season round in two-straight years. This was the result of hockey genius. That the G.M. was able to sustain the momentum with choice additions such as Trottier proved to be among the roots of an eventual dynasty.