Comparing Islanders captains I was struck by the similarities shared by the two wingers
Comparing Islanders captains -- past and present -- I was struck by the similarities shared by wingers Patrick Flatley and Anders Lee.
"They're both honest workmen," says former Isles goalie-turned analyst, Glenn (Chico) Resch," and each plays the same gritty, honest game."
Both were collegiate stars, Flatley at the University of Wisconsin and Lee at Notre Dame. Each scored a goal in his first game in Islanders livery.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGTq87WgcuQ[/embed]
"What we loved about Flats," said coach Al Arbour, "was his physical game. We saw that in the 1984 playoffs against the Rangers when he knocked (Rangers defenseman) Barry Beck out of the playoffs with a clean check."
I decided to check it out in the book I co-authored with Zachary Weinstock, "Rangers vs. Islanders." Sure enough -- on page 77 -- there was the story.
This was the famed 1984 Rangers-Isles best-of-five series that went to overtime during the Isles Drive for Five;
It was April 4, 1984 and the Blueshirts needed only one more win to oust the visitors from Uniondale. The Garden crowd couldn't wait to celebrate but the Isles -- and Flatley -- got in the way.
The score was 1-1 late in the first period when Flats drilled Beck into the boards. Beck's wonky shoulder separated again, Beck fell face down on the ice but no penalty was called since it was a perfectly clean check.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC0f5COQhrY[/embed]
Meanwhile, Brent Sutter grabbed the puck, went in and scored what would become the winning goal. The Isles won the game, 4-1, and took the series in Game Five.
That's precisely the game Anders Lee plays; hard but clean with the accent on leadership. He was that way quarterbacking his high school team in Edina, Minnesota where Lee also starred in baseball.
When drafting time arrived several NHL teams shied away, thinking that Anders was leaning toward an National Football League career. That helps explain why g.m. Garth Snow was able to land him in the sixth round, 151st overall.
By contrast, Flatley was discovered by g.m. Bill Torrey's bird dogs while starring for the Wisconsin Badgers, The smiling left wing was plucked 21st overall
-- Bow Tie Bill's first pick -- in the 1982 Draft and later gained headlines playing for Canada in the 1984 Olympics. In his very first game as an Islander, Patrick scored on his first shot.
Flatley's leadership qualities were evident from the get-go and in October 1991 he was named team captain, succeeding Brent Sutter who had been traded to Chicago.
As for Lee's getting the captaincy, the decision was made by coach Barry Trotz after the coach held one-on-one meetings with every player. "I came away with the feeling that 'respect' would be a key factor in my decision," said Trotz. "Anders has the respect of all his teammates."
That aura of respect has surrounded Lee ever since. And for proof positive, watch him on any night against any foe. Whenever I do that, I can't help but think of a hero from yesteryear.
Patrick Flatley!