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Billy Smith (ice hockey)
Encyclopedia
William John Smith, better known as Billy Smith, (born December 12, 1950) is a retired professional ice hockey
goaltender
and is best known for winning four Stanley Cup
s with the New York Islanders
and being the first goalie to be credited with a goal.
from the Cornwall Royals
of the QMJHL
. He played two seasons with the Kings' minor league
affiliate, the American Hockey League's Springfield Kings
, and spent a brief stint with the big-league Kings after winning a Calder Cup
for Springfield in 1971.
He was drafted in the 1972 NHL Expansion Draft
by the New York Islanders
; he was the second player picked by the team. After sharing goaltending duties with Gerry Desjardins
for two years, he got the starting job all to himself in 1974–75 when Desjardins bolted to the World Hockey Association
. That season, he led the Islanders to their first playoff appearance.
All-Star Game, where he was named MVP. For the rest of the decade, he shared time in the Islanders net with Glenn Resch, where they combined to form perhaps the top goaltending duo in the NHL at the time. This changed in the 1980 playoffs, when the Isles rode Smith's goaltending to their first of four consecutive Stanley Cups, firmly establishing Smith as the team's starting goaltender. Resch was dealt to the Colorado Rockies
the following season. Smith went on to become a First Team All-Star and Vezina Trophy
winner in 1982. In 1983, he won the William M. Jennings Trophy
for fewest goals allowed (shared with Roland Melanson
). He was chosen to play for Canada in the 1981 Canada Cup
, but was unable to play due to an injury sustained in a pre-tournament game.
Smith's regular season success, however, was surpassed by his performances in the playoffs, as he helped the Islanders win four straight Stanley Cup
s (1980–83), reach the finals five straight times (1980–84
), and win a record 19 consecutive playoff series from 1980–84.
His single most famous game may be his 2–0 victory in the first game of the 1983 Stanley Cup finals against the Edmonton Oilers
, shutting out the likes of Wayne Gretzky
, Mark Messier
, Paul Coffey
, and Jari Kurri
. The Islanders went on to sweep the Oilers in 4 games, with Smith allowing the Oilers only 6 goals and winning the Conn Smythe Trophy
as Most Valuable Player in the Playoffs. A year later, Smith broke the record for the most Playoff victories: he led all goaltenders in playoff victories in total and in every individual year between 1980 and 1984. Then in 1985, Smith led the Islanders to win 3 straight games after being down 0–2 to the Washington Capitals
, the first time such a comeback occurred in the NHL. Smith's playoff success feeds into his reputation as the supreme "money" goalie, the person you would want in net with the season on the line. Teammates and observers have said that Smith seemed able to sense when he needed to be perfect to win and when he could give up five goals and still come away with the victory.
, the Rockies' goaltender left the ice for an extra attacker
after a delayed penalty call was called on the Islanders. The puck deflected off the chest protector of the Islanders' Smith into the corner. Colorado rookie Rob Ramage
picked up the puck and accidentally made a blind pass from the corner boards in the opposing zone to the blue line. Nobody was there to receive the pass, and so the puck sailed all the way down the length of the ice and into the Colorado net. Smith had been the last Islander to touch the puck, and was credited with a goal.
Bill Torrey
to the expansion Florida Panthers
in the same role, serving there until 2000.
The Islanders retired his #31 on February 20, 1993. Later that year, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
, the only goalie inducted in the Hall in the 1990s. In 1998, he was ranked number 80 on The Hockey News list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players.
Smith was also noted for his displays of feigned injuries that would often lead to penalties against opponents, for whom he carried an undisguised enmity. For instance, in Game Four of the 1983 Stanley Cup Finals, Smith's dive resulted in referee Andy Van Hellemond handing a five minute penalty to Glenn Anderson
of the Edmonton Oilers
. Van Hellemond said that this was "making a bit of a fool of me", and when he officiated Game One of the 1984 Finals, a rematch of the Islanders and Oilers, he called no penalty when Smith and Anderson collided.
Smith refused to participate in the traditional handshakes between teams at the end of a playoff series, as to not feel any worse after a loss than he already did, being very passionate about games that put the ranking of their team on the line.
A notable incident with Smith occurred in practice where then-teammate Mike Bossy
fired a shot at Smith to which Smith objected. Smith charged after Bossy with his stick but was tackled by teammates before Smith took his frustrations out on Bossy.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
goaltender
Goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...
and is best known for winning four Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
s with the New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
and being the first goalie to be credited with a goal.
NHL beginnings
He was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the 5th round of the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft1970 NHL Amateur Draft
The 1970 NHL Amateur Draft was held on June 11, 1970 at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.-Selections by round:Below are listed the selections in the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft...
from the Cornwall Royals
Cornwall Royals
The Cornwall Royals were a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League from 1969 to 1981 and the Ontario Hockey League from 1981 to 1992. This team should not be confused with other Cornwall Royals teams that played in the QSHL, MMJHL, or OHA-B.-History:From 1961 until 1969, the...
of the QMJHL
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League...
. He played two seasons with the Kings' minor league
Minor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in...
affiliate, the American Hockey League's Springfield Kings
Springfield Indians
The Springfield Indians were a minor professional ice hockey franchise, originally based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and later Springfield, Massachusetts. The Indians were founding members of the American Hockey League. They were in existence for a total of 60 seasons from 1926 to 1994, with...
, and spent a brief stint with the big-league Kings after winning a Calder Cup
Calder Cup
The Calder Cup is awarded annually to the playoff champion of the American Hockey League. The trophy is the world's second oldest continuous professional ice hockey championship, having first been awarded in 1937 following the 1936-37 AHL season, and continuously being awarded every year.The cup...
for Springfield in 1971.
He was drafted in the 1972 NHL Expansion Draft
1972 NHL Expansion Draft
The 1972 NHL Expansion Draft was held on June 6, 1972. The draft took place to fill the rosters of the league's two then-new expansion teams for the 1972–73 season, the New York Islanders and the Atlanta Flames.-Draft results:-See also:...
by the New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
; he was the second player picked by the team. After sharing goaltending duties with Gerry Desjardins
Gerry Desjardins
Gerard Ferdinand Desjardins is a Canadian former ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League for the Los Angeles Kings, Chicago Black Hawks, New York Islanders, and Buffalo Sabres, and also played one season in the World Hockey Association.- References :...
for two years, he got the starting job all to himself in 1974–75 when Desjardins bolted to the World Hockey Association
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
. That season, he led the Islanders to their first playoff appearance.
Successful Islander stints
Smith played in the 197831st National Hockey League All-Star Game
The Wales Conference All-Star team defeated the Campbell Conference for the fourth consecutive year. Gilbert Perreault scored at 3:35 of sudden death overtime for the winning goal...
All-Star Game, where he was named MVP. For the rest of the decade, he shared time in the Islanders net with Glenn Resch, where they combined to form perhaps the top goaltending duo in the NHL at the time. This changed in the 1980 playoffs, when the Isles rode Smith's goaltending to their first of four consecutive Stanley Cups, firmly establishing Smith as the team's starting goaltender. Resch was dealt to the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies (NHL)
The Colorado Rockies were an American professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League that played in Denver, Colorado, from 1976 to 1982. They were a relocation of the Kansas City Scouts, a 1974 expansion team. The franchise moved to East Rutherford, New Jersey, in 1982 and was...
the following season. Smith went on to become a First Team All-Star and Vezina Trophy
Vezina Trophy
The Vezina Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's goaltender who is "adjudged to be the best at this position". At the end of each season, the 30 General Managers of the teams in the National Hockey League vote to determine the goaltender who was the most valuable to his team...
winner in 1982. In 1983, he won the William M. Jennings Trophy
William M. Jennings Trophy
The William M. Jennings Trophy is an annual National Hockey League award given to "the goalkeeper having played a minimum of 25 games for the team with the fewest goals scored against it. Winners are selected based on regular-season play." From 1946 until 1981, the Vezina Trophy had been awarded...
for fewest goals allowed (shared with Roland Melanson
Roland Melanson
Roland Joseph "Rollie the Goalie" Melanson is a former goaltender in the NHL and the goaltender coach for the Vancouver Canucks. He previously served as goaltender coach for the Montreal Canadiens...
). He was chosen to play for Canada in the 1981 Canada Cup
1981 Canada Cup
The 1981 Canada Cup was the second best-on-best ice hockey world championship and involved the world's top six hockey nations. Tournament games were held in Edmonton, Winnipeg, Montreal and Ottawa. The Soviet Union defeated Canada in a single game final to win its first title, while Soviet...
, but was unable to play due to an injury sustained in a pre-tournament game.
Smith's regular season success, however, was surpassed by his performances in the playoffs, as he helped the Islanders win four straight Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
s (1980–83), reach the finals five straight times (1980–84
1984 Stanley Cup Finals
The 1984 Stanley Cup Final was held between the Edmonton Oilers and the then-defending champion New York Islanders. Edmonton was making their second-straight Finals appearance, and New York was making their fifth-straight...
), and win a record 19 consecutive playoff series from 1980–84.
His single most famous game may be his 2–0 victory in the first game of the 1983 Stanley Cup finals against the Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
, shutting out the likes of Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League , and has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters,...
, Mark Messier
Mark Messier
Mark Douglas Messier is a former Canadian professional ice hockey centre of the National Hockey League and current special assistant to the president and general manager of the New York Rangers. He spent a quarter of a century in the NHL with the Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, and Vancouver...
, Paul Coffey
Paul Coffey
Paul Douglas Coffey is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey defenceman in the National Hockey League. Known for his speed and scoring prowess, Coffey ranks second all-time among NHL defencemen in career goals, assists, and points, behind Ray Bourque.-Playing career:Coffey was drafted 6th...
, and Jari Kurri
Jari Kurri
Jari Pekka Kurri is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey right winger and a five-time Stanley Cup champion. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001. He is currently the general manager of Team Finland....
. The Islanders went on to sweep the Oilers in 4 games, with Smith allowing the Oilers only 6 goals and winning the Conn Smythe Trophy
Conn Smythe Trophy
The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the player judged most valuable to his team during the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup playoffs. The Conn Smythe Trophy has been awarded 46 times to 40 players since the 1964–65 NHL season...
as Most Valuable Player in the Playoffs. A year later, Smith broke the record for the most Playoff victories: he led all goaltenders in playoff victories in total and in every individual year between 1980 and 1984. Then in 1985, Smith led the Islanders to win 3 straight games after being down 0–2 to the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
, the first time such a comeback occurred in the NHL. Smith's playoff success feeds into his reputation as the supreme "money" goalie, the person you would want in net with the season on the line. Teammates and observers have said that Smith seemed able to sense when he needed to be perfect to win and when he could give up five goals and still come away with the victory.
First NHL goal by a goaltender
Smith was also the first NHL goaltender to be credited with scoring a goal. On November 28, 1979, in a game between the Islanders and the Colorado RockiesColorado Rockies (NHL)
The Colorado Rockies were an American professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League that played in Denver, Colorado, from 1976 to 1982. They were a relocation of the Kansas City Scouts, a 1974 expansion team. The franchise moved to East Rutherford, New Jersey, in 1982 and was...
, the Rockies' goaltender left the ice for an extra attacker
Extra attacker
An extra attacker in ice hockey is a forward or, less commonly, a defenceman who has been substituted in place of the goaltender. The purpose of this substitution is to gain an offensive advantage to score a goal...
after a delayed penalty call was called on the Islanders. The puck deflected off the chest protector of the Islanders' Smith into the corner. Colorado rookie Rob Ramage
Rob Ramage
George Robert Ramage is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Colorado Rockies, St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, Minnesota North Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers...
picked up the puck and accidentally made a blind pass from the corner boards in the opposing zone to the blue line. Nobody was there to receive the pass, and so the puck sailed all the way down the length of the ice and into the Colorado net. Smith had been the last Islander to touch the puck, and was credited with a goal.
Retirement
Smith retired in 1989; he was the last original Islander still on the team. After four years as the Islanders' goaltending coach, he followed longtime Islander general managerGeneral manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
Bill Torrey
Bill Torrey
William A. Torrey was a General Manager and executive in the National Hockey League, most famous for building up the expansion New York Islanders into a dynasty that won four consecutive Stanley Cups...
to the expansion Florida Panthers
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...
in the same role, serving there until 2000.
The Islanders retired his #31 on February 20, 1993. Later that year, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
, the only goalie inducted in the Hall in the 1990s. In 1998, he was ranked number 80 on The Hockey News list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players.
Personality
He was nicknamed "Battlin' Billy" or "Hatchet Man" for his fiery temper and unabashed use of the stick or blocker on players crowding his crease.Smith was also noted for his displays of feigned injuries that would often lead to penalties against opponents, for whom he carried an undisguised enmity. For instance, in Game Four of the 1983 Stanley Cup Finals, Smith's dive resulted in referee Andy Van Hellemond handing a five minute penalty to Glenn Anderson
Glenn Anderson
Glenn Christopher Anderson is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger in the National Hockey League who played for the Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, and St. Louis Blues...
of the Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
. Van Hellemond said that this was "making a bit of a fool of me", and when he officiated Game One of the 1984 Finals, a rematch of the Islanders and Oilers, he called no penalty when Smith and Anderson collided.
Smith refused to participate in the traditional handshakes between teams at the end of a playoff series, as to not feel any worse after a loss than he already did, being very passionate about games that put the ranking of their team on the line.
A notable incident with Smith occurred in practice where then-teammate Mike Bossy
Mike Bossy
Michael Dean Bossy is a former Canadian ice hockey player who played for the New York Islanders for his entire career and was part of their four-year reign as Stanley Cup champions in the early 1980s...
fired a shot at Smith to which Smith objected. Smith charged after Bossy with his stick but was tackled by teammates before Smith took his frustrations out on Bossy.
Awards and achievements
- Calder CupCalder CupThe Calder Cup is awarded annually to the playoff champion of the American Hockey League. The trophy is the world's second oldest continuous professional ice hockey championship, having first been awarded in 1937 following the 1936-37 AHL season, and continuously being awarded every year.The cup...
championship in 1971. - Played in 1978 NHL All-Star Game.
- Selected to the NHL First All-Star Team in 19821981-82 NHL seasonThe 1981–82 NHL season was the 65th season of the National Hockey League. The William M. Jennings Trophy made its debut this year as the trophy for the goaltenders from the team with the fewest goals against...
. - Conn Smythe TrophyConn Smythe TrophyThe Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the player judged most valuable to his team during the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup playoffs. The Conn Smythe Trophy has been awarded 46 times to 40 players since the 1964–65 NHL season...
winner in 19831982-83 NHL season-NHL awards:-All-Star teams:Source: NHL.-Scoring leaders:Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = PointsSource: NHL.-Leading goaltenders:...
. - Vezina TrophyVezina TrophyThe Vezina Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's goaltender who is "adjudged to be the best at this position". At the end of each season, the 30 General Managers of the teams in the National Hockey League vote to determine the goaltender who was the most valuable to his team...
winner in 1983. - William M. Jennings TrophyWilliam M. Jennings TrophyThe William M. Jennings Trophy is an annual National Hockey League award given to "the goalkeeper having played a minimum of 25 games for the team with the fewest goals scored against it. Winners are selected based on regular-season play." From 1946 until 1981, the Vezina Trophy had been awarded...
winner in 1983 (shared with Roland MelansonRoland MelansonRoland Joseph "Rollie the Goalie" Melanson is a former goaltender in the NHL and the goaltender coach for the Vancouver Canucks. He previously served as goaltender coach for the Montreal Canadiens...
). - Stanley CupStanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
championships in 19801980 Stanley Cup Finals-See also:* List of Stanley Cup champions* 1979–80 NHL season* 1980 NBA Finals* 1980 World Series* Super Bowl XV-Notes:...
, 19811981 Stanley Cup Finals-References:...
, 19821982 Stanley Cup Finals-References:...
, 19831983 Stanley Cup Finals-Members of New York Islanders 1980 to 1983 Dynasty:*Mike Bossy, Bob Bourne, Clark Gillies, Butch Goring, Anders Kallur, Gord Lane, Dave Langevin, Wayne Merrick, Ken Morrow, Bob Nystrom, Stefan Persson, Denis Potvin, Billy Smith, Duane Sutter, John Tonelli, Bryan Trottier *Lorne Henning , Bill...
. - First NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
goalie to be credited with a goal in 19791978-79 NHL seasonThe 1978–79 NHL season was the 62nd season of the National Hockey League. The Montreal Canadiens beat the New York Rangers in the Stanley Cup finals four games to one for their fourth Cup in a row...
. - Inducted into the Hockey Hall of FameHockey Hall of FameThe Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
in 1993. - His #31 jersey was retired by the New York IslandersNew York IslandersThe New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
on February 20, 1993. - In 1998, he was ranked number 80 on The Hockey News list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players.
Regular season
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA Goals against average Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender.... |
SV% Save percentage Save percentage is an ice hockey and lacrosse statistic that represents the percentage of shots on goal a goaltender stops... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969–70 1969–70 QMJHL season The 1969–70 QMJHL season was the first season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Eleven teams formed the new league, ten from Quebec and one from Ontario... |
Cornwall Royals Cornwall Royals The Cornwall Royals were a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League from 1969 to 1981 and the Ontario Hockey League from 1981 to 1992. This team should not be confused with other Cornwall Royals teams that played in the QSHL, MMJHL, or OHA-B.-History:From 1961 until 1969, the... |
QMJHL Quebec Major Junior Hockey League The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League... |
55 | — | — | — | 2946 | 249 | 1 | 4.52 | .899 |
| 1970–71 1970–71 AHL season The 1970–71 AHL season was the 35th season of the American Hockey League. Eight teams played 72 games each in the schedule. The Baltimore Clippers finished first overall in the regular season... |
Springfield Kings | AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
49 | 19 | 20 | 6 | 2728 | 160 | 2 | 3.51 | — |
| 1971–72 1971–72 AHL season The 1971–72 AHL season was the 36th season of the American Hockey League. Major changes occurred in the off-season. The league welcomed four expansion teams, and lost both Quebec-based teams. Eleven teams played 76 games each in the schedule. The Boston Braves finished first overall in the regular... |
Springfield Kings | AHL | 28 | 24 | 3 | 1 | 1649 | 77 | 4 | 2.80 | .882 |
| 1971–72 | Los Angeles Kings Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 300 | 23 | 0 | 4.60 | .884 |
| 1972–73 | New York Islanders New York Islanders The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 37 | 7 | 24 | 3 | 2122 | 147 | 3 | 4.16 | .915 |
| 1973–74 | New York Islanders | NHL | 46 | 9 | 23 | 12 | 2615 | 134 | 3 | 3.07 | .902 |
| 1974–75 | New York Islanders | NHL | 58 | 21 | 18 | 17 | 3368 | 156 | 3 | 2.78 | .911 |
| 1975–76 | New York Islanders | NHL | 39 | 19 | 10 | 9 | 2254 | 98 | 3 | 2.61 | .909 |
| 1976–77 | New York Islanders | NHL | 36 | 21 | 8 | 6 | 2089 | 87 | 2 | 2.50 | — |
| 1977–78 | New York Islanders | NHL | 38 | 20 | 8 | 8 | 2154 | 85 | 2 | 2.65 | — |
| 1978–79 | New York Islanders | NHL | 40 | 25 | 8 | 4 | 2261 | 108 | 1 | 2.87 | — |
| 1979–80 | New York Islanders | NHL | 38 | 15 | 14 | 7 | 2114 | 104 | 2 | 2.95 | — |
| 1980–81 | New York Islanders | NHL | 41 | 22 | 10 | 8 | 2363 | 129 | 2 | 3.28 | — |
| 1981–82 | New York Islanders | NHL | 46 | 32 | 9 | 4 | 2685 | 133 | 0 | 2.97 | .900 |
| 1982–83 | New York Islanders | NHL | 41 | 18 | 14 | 7 | 2340 | 112 | 1 | 2.87 | .906 |
| 1983–84 | New York Islanders | NHL | 42 | 23 | 13 | 2 | 2279 | 130 | 2 | 3.42 | .896 |
| 1984–85 | New York Islanders | NHL | 37 | 18 | 14 | 3 | 2090 | 133 | 0 | 3.82 | .879 |
| 1985–86 | New York Islanders | NHL | 41 | 20 | 14 | 4 | 2308 | 143 | 1 | 3.72 | .881 |
| 1986–87 | New York Islanders | NHL | 40 | 14 | 18 | 5 | 2252 | 132 | 1 | 3.52 | .869 |
| 1987–88 | New York Islanders | NHL | 38 | 17 | 14 | 5 | 2107 | 113 | 2 | 3.22 | .893 |
| 1988–89 | New York Islanders | NHL | 17 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 730 | 54 | 0 | 3.22 | .851 |
| NHL totals | 680 | 305 | 233 | 105 | 38,431 | 2,031 | 22 | 3.17 | — | ||
Playoffs
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969-70 | Cornwall Royals | QMJHL | 6 | — | — | 360 | 14 | 1 | 2.33 | — |
| 1970-71 | Springfield Indians | AHL | 11 | 9 | 1 | 682 | 29 | 1 | 2.56 | — |
| 1971-72 | Springfield Indians | AHL | 4 | 1 | 2 | 192 | 13 | 0 | 4.06 | — |
| 1974-75 | New York Islanders | NHL | 6 | 1 | 4 | 333 | 23 | 0 | 4.14 | — |
| 1975-76 | New York Islanders | NHL | 8 | 4 | 3 | 437 | 21 | 0 | 2.88 | — |
| 1976-77 | New York Islanders | NHL | 10 | 7 | 3 | 580 | 27 | 0 | 2.79 | — |
| 1977-78 | New York Islanders | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 1 | 0 | 1.28 | — |
| 1978-79 | New York Islanders | NHL | 5 | 4 | 1 | 315 | 10 | 1 | 1.90 | — |
| 1979-80 | New York Islanders | NHL | 20 | 15 | 4 | 1198 | 56 | 1 | 2.80 | — |
| 1980-81 | New York Islanders | NHL | 17 | 14 | 3 | 994 | 42 | 0 | 2.54 | — |
| 1981-82 | New York Islanders | NHL | 18 | 15 | 3 | 1120 | 47 | 1 | 2.52 | — |
| 1982-83 | New York Islanders | NHL | 17 | 13 | 3 | 962 | 43 | 3 | 2.68 | — |
| 1983-84 | New York Islanders | NHL | 21 | 12 | 8 | 1190 | 54 | 0 | 2.72 | .905 |
| 1984-85 | New York Islanders | NHL | 6 | 3 | 3 | 342 | 19 | 0 | 3.33 | .896 |
| 1985-86 | New York Islanders | NHL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 60 | 4 | 0 | 4.00 | .882 |
| 1986-87 | New York Islanders | NHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 67 | 1 | 0 | 0.90 | .955 |
| NHL totals | 132 | 88 | 36 | 7645 | 348 | 5 | 2.73 | — | ||