Joy in Uniondale

The Islanders don't choke

Just after the New York Islanders won their first Stanley Cup championship in the team's eight years, Captain Denis Potvin hoisted the 31-lb. silver trophy above "his head and as tradition dictates, skated triumphantly around the rink. Other Islanders rolled on the ice in glee, while some 15,000 fans roared out of Nassau Coliseum and turned Hempstead Turnpike into the world's loudest parking lot. Said Rookie Ken Morrow: "I just can't believe we did it."

Morrow was not alone. The Islanders were laboring under a well-deserved reputation as the team that chokes big. For years they had torn up the league during regular-season play, then faded in the playoffs. This year they finally made it to the finals, rolled up a 3-1 margin over the Philadelphia Flyers in the best-of-seven series--and almost choked. The Flyers narrowed the gap at three games to two. Said Islander Garry Howatt: "If one more person reminds me of our reputation, I'll choke him!"

In the final game the Islanders almost undid it again. They surged ahead 4-2, then let the Flyers catch up. But 7 min. 11 sec. into sudden death, John Tonelli took a pass from Lome Henning and snapped it to Bobby Nystrom, who backhanded the puck into Philadelphia's net. Said Nystrom: "I think that was the first backhand shot I ever scored on in my life."

The team stayed up all night drinking champagne from the commodious cup. A few days later, 30,000 Islander fans ended up in front of the Coliseum in Uniondale, L.I., for a victory celebration. "People are still out there honking their horns," marveled Nystrom, who, like the fans, was still somewhat bemused that the Islanders had not blown it again. "It's unbelievable."

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