Stan Fischler On Rangers Cup Chances Trailing two games to none in the 1994 first round of their series with the Rangers, the Islanders sought refuge in their home ice for Game Three, April 21, 1994. For encouragement, Isles coach Al Arbour found little to go with other than the support of home fans. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA1ODE0MDg1NTAwMDE5ODIz/cover94.jpg] Arithmetically, the Isles were lost; 6-0 in Game One, and 6-0 in Game Two. The scores made it look like a "Tennis Series," as the media labelled the routs. To say the least it was embarrassing to fans of the Orange and Blue but Nassau Veterans' Memorial Coliseum offered hope -- about a gossamer string's worth -- but hope nonetheless. Meanwhile Arbour's general staff agreed that a lineup change -- going bigger and tougher -- might be the prescription for the sickly losers. Adding skill was another; in fact it was the Rangers primary weapon. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bSUC0B4xig[/embed] Surely, the Isles fans were doing their job. Banners were hung around The Old Barn: WE CAN DO IT was one of them supported by chants of "LET'S GO ISLANDERS." Hope ruled the rink as the capacity crowd awaited the opening face-off. Press box critics were less enthused. As one reporter noted, "If Ron Hextall can't play better in goal, the Islanders are toast." Just two minutes and eight seconds after the opening face-off, Hexy fanned on an Esa Tikkanen shot and another newsman blurted, "Here we go again." In this case the "We" was a reference to Mike Keenan's tean, not Al Arbour's outfit. Less than two minutes after Tik's goal, Brian Leetch scored on a power play. That prompted Zachary Weinstrock -- co-author of a Rangers-Islanders rivalry history -- to opine: "Low, long goals by the Rangers were now THE theme of Hextall's season." In this case, figures didn't lie: including one full game and more than half of the second game, the total goal count was 15-0 for the Rangers. Finally, at 15:28 of the second period, Ray Ferraro beat Mike Richter. Weinstock, "The place exploded, as if they never thought they'd see another goal for the rest of their lives." I was there, working the series for Isles TV, and can vouch Zach's observati since the Nassaumen had gone 204 minutes without scoring, going back to the regular season. That's over ten periods of abject futility. Suddenly, the audience erupted into a "LET'S GO ISLANDERS" chant that suggested hope until Alexei Kovalev made it 4-1 on a power play. And just to extinguish any optimism for the home team, Adam Graves humbled Hexy with a red light half way through the third period. A year earlier, Isles fans were cheering their goalie Glenn Healy, hero of a playoff upset, dethroning the champion Penguins. What a change with feeble Hextall making only 13 saves on 18 shots in Game Three. The Coliseum offered no balm: 5-1, Rangers. At least a few media folks questioned Arbour's dedication to the harried Hextall but with seeming little to go with, the Isles coach figured he had nothing to lose in Game Four. After all, with the agregate score, 17-1 for the Seventh Avenue Skaters, rebound miracles were as rare as smooth sailing on the Long Island Expressway during rush hour! A quick, four game burial of the Islanders was expected in Game Four -- a Sunday matinee on April 24, 1994 -- in Uniondale.
