This Day in Isles History: April 8

April 8, 2007: The Islanders win their season finale vs. New Jersey 3-2 in a shootout, clinching a playoff spot in their final game of the regular season. Wade Dubielewicz makes the final save with a poke-check on Devils' forward Sergei Brylin to clinch the victory. Richard Park scores twice in regulation. The win caps a season-ending four-game winning streak for the Islanders to vault them into the playoffs.

Park on the poke-check, per the Talkin' Isles podcast.

"It's the worst looking thing, but that poke-check of his, he's so good at it. You would know it's coming, and you still couldn't beat him. it was incredible."

Zach Parise, who was playing for the Devils at the time, on the game and poke-check, also via the Talkin' Isles podcast.

"We started [Scott] Clemmensen that day, and I think which I drove all the Leafs fans nuts. But in pro sports, anytime you hop on, you're trying to win. And whether we started Marty or we started Clemmer, it didn't matter we were trying to win the game. Regardless, you're not concerned about what the other team is playing for or what they're doing. You're worried about your team. We're getting ready for ourselves to play playoffs..."

April 8, 1979: Mike Bossy scores his 69th goal of the season against the Rangers, a career-high. It is the second-highest total in NHL history at the time and is currently 15th. The 5-2 win gives the Islanders the best overall record in the NHL at 51-15-14.

April 8, 1978: The Islanders clinch their first Patrick Division and Campbell Conference championships with a 7-2 win over the Rangers at the Coliseum.