Islanders expect emotional night to honor Mike Bossy
Hall of Famer and former Islander Mike Bossy waves to fans as he is introduced before the game between the Islanders and the Boston Bruins at Nassau Coliseum on Jan. 29, 2015, in Uniondale. Bossy dropped a ceremonial first puck. Bossy, one of hockey’s most prolific goal-scorers and a star for the Islanders during their 1980s dynasty, died Friday after a battle with lung cancer. He was 65. Credit: AP / Kathy Kmonicek
The game no longer means anything in the standings to the Islanders, but Tuesday at UBS Arena will be one of the two most emotional nights at the team’s new home.
The game against the playoff-bound Panthers will be the first in the building since Islanders Hall of Famer Mike Bossy passed away Friday from lung cancer at 65.
“It should pull us emotionally into it,” coach Barry Trotz said after Sunday night’s 4-2 loss in Toronto, which eliminated the Islanders from playoff contention for the first time since 2018. “This is a legend, not only with the Islander family but a legend around the league. We should be emotionally engaged because of what he meant to the franchise, to the personal relationships with a lot of these guys that he had, especially the veteran players.”
The Islanders, who did not practice on Monday, would not specify what is planned to honor Bossy’s memory. But the previous tribute to the late Clark Gillies should serve as a strong preview.
Gillies, Bossy’s longtime linemate, passed away on Jan. 21 at 67, and the Islanders hosted the Maple Leafs the next night. Fans laid flowers in front of Gillies’ plaque on the Islanders’ Wall of Fame and there was a touching video tribute before the puck was dropped, starting with a photo montage and including fans’ messages via Twitter.
No doubt, there will be the same outpouring of affection for Bossy.
“The fans see through things so clearly and they saw how genuine Mike was,” Islanders co-owner Jon Ledecky told Newsday. “That’s what I’m getting in terms of these hundreds of messages and texts. He was a great ambassador for the franchise, an incredible storyteller. He’s an authentic hero.
“Fifty, 60% of the texts mention the fact that we’ve lost three great pros,” said Ledecky, including Jean Potvin, who passed away on March 15 at 72. “It’s tough. We have the joy of opening an arena that fans have deserved for so long and everybody is so happy about that. But we have the sadness of two of the players in the rafters, retired numbers, iconic Hall of Fame players, who have gone to heaven.”
Bossy, who was born in Montreal and never strayed from his roots in that city, was given an emotional video tribute and moment of silence before the Islanders’ 3-0 win over the Canadiens at Bell Centre on Friday. The Maple Leafs also presented a video tribute and held a moment of silence before Sunday’s game at Scotiabank Arena.
But having Islanders fans involved will make it different.
“The way he’s revered on the Island, it’s pretty special,” said Kyle Palmieri, who was born in Smithtown and whose father used to sneak into Nassau Coliseum for games. “He’s a legend. He had a legendary career. It’s always special when you see the ovations for those guys coming back. To lose such a special player, it’s tough. I’m sure the fans on Long Island will celebrate accordingly.”
Notes & quotes: The NHL fined Mathew Barzal $2,500 for unsportsmanlike conduct in Sunday’s third period.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
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