# 1985–86 New York Islanders season

The 1985–86 New York Islanders season was the 14th season for the franchise in the National Hockey League.

## Regular season

* January 28: In a 9–2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, Denis Potvin breaks Bobby Orr's NHL career record for goals by a defenseman.

### Final standings

Patrick Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 80 | 53 | 23 | 4 | 335 | 241 | 110 |
| Washington Capitals | 80 | 50 | 23 | 7 | 315 | 272 | 107 |
| New York Islanders | 80 | 39 | 29 | 12 | 327 | 284 | 90 |
| New York Rangers | 80 | 36 | 38 | 6 | 280 | 276 | 78 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 80 | 34 | 38 | 8 | 313 | 305 | 76 |
| New Jersey Devils | 80 | 28 | 49 | 3 | 300 | 374 | 59 |
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

### Record vs. opponents

Patrick Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Patrick Division
1985–86 NHL records
Team
NJD
NYI
NYR
PHI
PIT
WSH
Total
New Jersey
—2−52−53−42−4−11−610−24−1
N.Y. Islanders
5−2—3−3−14−35−1−13−420−13−2
N.Y. Rangers
5−23−3−1—1−62−4−13−3−114−18−3
Philadelphia
4−33−46−1—6−0−15−224−10−1
Pittsburgh
4−2−11−5−14−2−10–6−1—1−610−21−4
Washington
6−14−33−3−12–56−1—21−13−1
Vs. Adams Division
1985–86 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
HFD
MTL
QUE
Total
New Jersey
0−31−21−21−22−15−10−0
N.Y. Islanders
1−0−21−22−11−21−26−7−2
N.Y. Rangers
2−10−31−22−0−10−2−15−8−2
Philadelphia
2−11−23−02−11−1−19−5−1
Pittsburgh
1−22−0−11−20−2−11−1−15−7−3
Washington
2−0−11−1−12−0−12−0−13−010−1−4
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Norris Division
1985–86 NHL records
Team
CHI
DET
MIN
STL
TOR
Total
New Jersey
2−12−0−11−21−21−27−7−1
N.Y. Islanders
0−2−13−00−2−11−1−13−07−5−3
N.Y. Rangers
0−33−01−21−1−12−17−7−1
Philadelphia
2−0−12−12−0−12−12−110−3−2
Pittsburgh
1−1−12−13−02−13−011−3−1
Washington
2−12−12−13−02−111−4−0
Vs. Smythe Division
1985–86 NHL records
Team
CGY
EDM
LAK
VAN
WIN
Total
New Jersey
0−2−10−32−12−12−16−8−1
N.Y. Islanders
1−1−10−1−22−11−1−12−0−16−4−5
N.Y. Rangers
1−22−12−13−02−110−5−0
Philadelphia
2−11−23−02−12−110−5−0
Pittsburgh
1−21−22−12−12−18−7−0
Washington
0−33−02−12−0−11−1−18−5−2 :

## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | W | October 12, 1985 | 5–4 OT | @ Los Angeles Kings (1985–86) | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | L | October 14, 1985 | 2–4 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1985–86) | 1–1–0 |
| 3 | L | October 16, 1985 | 4–6 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1985–86) | 1–2–0 |
| 4 | W | October 19, 1985 | 5–4 | New York Rangers (1985–86) | 2–2–0 |
| 5 | T | October 22, 1985 | 2–2 OT | Vancouver Canucks (1985–86) | 2–2–1 |
| 6 | W | October 24, 1985 | 6–5 | Quebec Nordiques (1985–86) | 3–2–1 |
| 7 | W | October 26, 1985 | 5–2 | @ St. Louis Blues (1985–86) | 4–2–1 |
| 8 | L | October 29, 1985 | 2–3 | Los Angeles Kings (1985–86) | 4–3–1 |
| 9 | L | November 1, 1985 | 3–5 | @ Washington Capitals (1985–86) | 4–4–1 |
| 10 | W | November 2, 1985 | 5–3 | Washington Capitals (1985–86) | 5–4–1 |
| 11 | T | November 5, 1985 | 4–4 OT | Calgary Flames (1985–86) | 5–4–2 |
| 12 | W | November 6, 1985 | 5–4 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1985–86) | 6–4–2 |
| 13 | W | November 9, 1985 | 3–2 | New Jersey Devils (1985–86) | 7–4–2 |
| 14 | L | November 12, 1985 | 2–3 | Montreal Canadiens (1985–86) | 7–5–2 |
| 15 | T | November 16, 1985 | 4–4 OT | Edmonton Oilers (1985–86) | 7–5–3 |
| 16 | L | November 17, 1985 | 4–5 OT | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1985–86) | 7–6–3 |
| 17 | W | November 19, 1985 | 8–6 | Philadelphia Flyers (1985–86) | 8–6–3 |
| 18 | T | November 21, 1985 | 4–4 OT | @ Boston Bruins (1985–86) | 8–6–4 |
| 19 | L | November 23, 1985 | 0–5 | New York Rangers (1985–86) | 8–7–4 |
| 20 | W | November 24, 1985 | 4–3 OT | @ New York Rangers (1985–86) | 9–7–4 |
| 21 | T | November 27, 1985 | 4–4 OT | @ Minnesota North Stars (1985–86) | 9–7–5 |
| 22 | W | November 29, 1985 | 4–1 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1985–86) | 10–7–5 |
| 23 | L | November 30, 1985 | 3–4 | @ Calgary Flames (1985–86) | 10–8–5 |
| 24 | T | December 3, 1985 | 4–4 OT | Winnipeg Jets (1985–86) | 10–8–6 |
| 25 | L | December 6, 1985 | 3–7 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1985–86) | 10–9–6 |
| 26 | L | December 7, 1985 | 1–4 | Quebec Nordiques (1985–86) | 10–10–6 |
| 27 | W | December 10, 1985 | 7–4 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1985–86) | 11–10–6 |
| 28 | T | December 11, 1985 | 4–4 OT | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1985–86) | 11–10–7 |
| 29 | T | December 14, 1985 | 2–2 OT | St. Louis Blues (1985–86) | 11–10–8 |
| 30 | W | December 17, 1985 | 7–3 | Buffalo Sabres (1985–86) | 12–10–8 |
| 31 | T | December 20, 1985 | 2–2 OT | @ New York Rangers (1985–86) | 12–10–9 |
| 32 | L | December 21, 1985 | 4–5 | New York Rangers (1985–86) | 12–11–9 |
| 33 | W | December 23, 1985 | 6–3 | @ Hartford Whalers (1985–86) | 13–11–9 |
| 34 | L | December 26, 1985 | 3–4 | Hartford Whalers (1985–86) | 13–12–9 |
| 35 | W | December 28, 1985 | 4–2 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1985–86) | 14–12–9 |
| 36 | L | December 29, 1985 | 3–4 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1985–86) | 14–13–9 |
| 37 | W | December 31, 1985 | 5–4 OT | @ Detroit Red Wings (1985–86) | 15–13–9 |
| 38 | W | January 2, 1986 | 7–5 | Boston Bruins (1985–86) | 16–13–9 |
| 39 | L | January 4, 1986 | 1–4 | Chicago Black Hawks (1985–86) | 16–14–9 |
| 40 | L | January 7, 1986 | 2–3 | Minnesota North Stars (1985–86) | 16–15–9 |
| 41 | W | January 9, 1986 | 9–0 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1985–86) | 17–15–9 |
| 42 | W | January 11, 1986 | 8–2 | Detroit Red Wings (1985–86) | 18–15–9 |
| 43 | L | January 15, 1986 | 3–6 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1985–86) | 18–16–9 |
| 44 | W | January 17, 1986 | 4–3 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1985–86) | 19–16–9 |
| 45 | L | January 18, 1986 | 0–3 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1985–86) | 19–17–9 |
| 46 | W | January 21, 1986 | 7–3 | Philadelphia Flyers (1985–86) | 20–17–9 |
| 47 | W | January 24, 1986 | 7–5 | @ Washington Capitals (1985–86) | 21–17–9 |
| 48 | T | January 25, 1986 | 3–3 OT | Chicago Black Hawks (1985–86) | 21–17–10 |
| 49 | W | January 28, 1986 | 9–2 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1985–86) | 22–17–10 |
| 50 | W | January 30, 1986 | 8–4 | Philadelphia Flyers (1985–86) | 23–17–10 |
| 51 | W | February 1, 1986 | 4–3 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1985–86) | 24–17–10 |
| 52 | W | February 2, 1986 | 3–2 OT | @ New Jersey Devils (1985–86) | 25–17–10 |
| 53 | L | February 5, 1986 | 2–3 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1985–86) | 25–18–10 |
| 54 | W | February 8, 1986 | 4–3 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1985–86) | 26–18–10 |
| 55 | W | February 11, 1986 | 1–0 | Vancouver Canucks (1985–86) | 27–18–10 |
| 56 | L | February 13, 1986 | 3–6 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1985–86) | 27–19–10 |
| 57 | W | February 15, 1986 | 6–5 | New Jersey Devils (1985–86) | 28–19–10 |
| 58 | L | February 18, 1986 | 4–5 | Washington Capitals (1985–86) | 28–20–10 |
| 59 | L | February 21, 1986 | 1–5 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1985–86) | 28–21–10 |
| 60 | W | February 22, 1986 | 5–2 | Detroit Red Wings (1985–86) | 29–21–10 |
| 61 | L | February 26, 1986 | 2–7 | @ New Jersey Devils (1985–86) | 29–22–10 |
| 62 | W | February 28, 1986 | 6–3 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1985–86) | 30–22–10 |
| 63 | L | March 1, 1986 | 4–5 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1985–86) | 30–23–10 |
| 64 | W | March 4, 1986 | 6–3 | Montreal Canadiens (1985–86) | 31–23–10 |
| 65 | L | March 8, 1986 | 2–6 | Washington Capitals (1985–86) | 31–24–10 |
| 66 | L | March 9, 1986 | 1–3 | @ Washington Capitals (1985–86) | 31–25–10 |
| 67 | W | March 11, 1986 | 8–4 | Calgary Flames (1985–86) | 32–25–10 |
| 68 | W | March 13, 1986 | 3–2 | @ Hartford Whalers (1985–86) | 33–25–10 |
| 69 | W | March 15, 1986 | 3–1 | New Jersey Devils (1985–86) | 34–25–10 |
| 70 | L | March 16, 1986 | 1–3 | @ New York Rangers (1985–86) | 34–26–10 |
| 71 | W | March 18, 1986 | 6–2 | New York Rangers (1985–86) | 35–26–10 |
| 72 | W | March 20, 1986 | 7–1 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1985–86) | 36–26–10 |
| 73 | T | March 22, 1986 | 3–3 OT | @ Boston Bruins (1985–86) | 36–26–11 |
| 74 | L | March 25, 1986 | 0–2 | St. Louis Blues (1985–86) | 36–27–11 |
| 75 | W | March 28, 1986 | 4–3 | @ Washington Capitals (1985–86) | 37–27–11 |
| 76 | T | March 29, 1986 | 4–4 OT | Edmonton Oilers (1985–86) | 37–27–12 |
| 77 | L | April 1, 1986 | 2–4 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1985–86) | 37–28–12 |
| 78 | W | April 2, 1986 | 7–2 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1985–86) | 38–28–12 |
| 79 | W | April 5, 1986 | 7–1 | New Jersey Devils (1985–86) | 39–28–12 |
| 80 | L | April 6, 1986 | 7–9 | @ New Jersey Devils (1985–86) | 39–29–12 |

## Playoffs

The Islanders lost in their best-of-five series in the first round to the Washington Capitals.
Round 1: New York Islanders (3) vs. Washington Capitals (2)
Game 1- Islanders 1, Capitals 3
Game 2- Islanders 2, Capitals 5
Game 3- Capitals 3, Islanders 1
Washington wins series 3-0

## Player statistics

Regular season :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Mike Bossy | RW | 80 | 61 | 62 | 123 | 14 | 30 | 21 | 1 | 9 |
| Bryan Trottier | C | 78 | 37 | 59 | 96 | 72 | 29 | 5 | 1 | 3 |
| John Tonelli | LW | 65 | 20 | 41 | 61 | 50 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Denis Potvin | D | 74 | 21 | 38 | 59 | 78 | 34 | 8 | 1 | 4 |
| Brent Sutter | C | 61 | 24 | 31 | 55 | 74 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 2 |
| Pat LaFontaine | C | 65 | 30 | 23 | 53 | 43 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Duane Sutter | RW | 80 | 20 | 33 | 53 | 157 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Pat Flatley | RW | 73 | 18 | 34 | 52 | 66 | 20 | 6 | 0 | 2 |
| Tomas Jonsson | D | 77 | 14 | 30 | 44 | 62 | 16 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| Mikko Makela | RW | 58 | 16 | 20 | 36 | 28 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Paul Boutilier | D | 77 | 4 | 30 | 34 | 100 | -5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Bourne | C | 62 | 17 | 15 | 32 | 36 | -7 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Greg Gilbert | LW | 60 | 9 | 19 | 28 | 82 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Stefan Persson | D | 56 | 1 | 19 | 20 | 40 | -3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mark Hamway | RW | 49 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 9 | -5 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Richard Kromm | LW | 14 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Clark Gillies | LW | 55 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 55 | -8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Randy Boyd | D | 55 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 79 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Roger Kortko | C | 52 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 19 | -11 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Ken Morrow | D | 69 | 0 | 12 | 12 | 22 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gord Dineen | D | 57 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 81 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Neal Coulter | RW | 16 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 4 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ari Haanpaa | LW | 18 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steve Konroyd | D | 14 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 16 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dale Henry | LW | 7 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Bassen | C | 11 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gerald Diduck | D | 10 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Scott Howson | C | 10 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kelly Hrudey | G | 45 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Billy Smith | G | 41 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 49 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ken Leiter | D | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Nystrom | RW | 14 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 16 | -4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brad Dalgarno | RW | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Alan Kerr | RW | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Glenn Johannesen | LW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO | SA | SV | SV% |
| Billy Smith | 2308 | 41 | 20 | 14 | 4 | 143 | 3.72 | 1 | 1204 | 1061 | .881 |
| Kelly Hrudey | 2563 | 45 | 19 | 15 | 8 | 137 | 3.21 | 1 | 1455 | 1318 | .906 |
| Team: | 4871 | 80 | 39 | 29 | 12 | 280 | 3.45 | 2 | 2659 | 2379 | .895 |
Playoffs :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Mike Bossy | RW | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bryan Trottier | C | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Clark Gillies | LW | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pat LaFontaine | C | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Bassen | C | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tomas Jonsson | D | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Richard Kromm | LW | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Denis Potvin | D | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brent Sutter | C | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Bourne | C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul Boutilier | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Randy Boyd | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gord Dineen | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pat Flatley | RW | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Greg Gilbert | LW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mark Hamway | RW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kelly Hrudey | G | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Alan Kerr | RW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steve Konroyd | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ken Morrow | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Billy Smith | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Duane Sutter | RW | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO | SA | SV | SV% |
| Kelly Hrudey | 120 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 3.00 | 0 | 59 | 53 | .898 |
| Billy Smith | 60 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4.00 | 0 | 34 | 30 | .882 |
| Team: | 180 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 3.33 | 0 | 93 | 83 | .892 |
Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals  MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

## Draft picks

New York's draft picks at the 1985 NHL Entry Draft held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 6 | Brad Dalgarno | Canada | Hamilton Steelhawks (OHL) |
| 1 | 13 | Derek King | Canada | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) |
| 2 | 34 | Brad Lauer | Canada | Regina Pats (WHL) |
| 3 | 55 | Jeff Finley | Canada | Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) |
| 4 | 76 | Kevin Herom | Canada | Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) |
| 5 | 89 | Tommy Hedlund | Sweden | AIK IF (Sweden) |
| 5 | 97 | Jeff Sveen | Canada | Boston University (Hockey East) |
| 6 | 118 | Rod Dallman | Canada | Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) |
| 7 | 139 | Kurt Lackten | Canada | Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) |
| 8 | 160 | Hank Lammens | Canada | St. Lawrence University (ECAC) |
| 9 | 181 | Rich Wiest | Canada | Lethbridge Broncos (WHL) |
| 10 | 202 | Real Arsenault | Canada | Prince Andrew Secondary School (Canadian HS-NS) |
| 11 | 223 | Mike Volpe | Canada | Halifax Lions (MTJHL) |
| 12 | 244 | Tony Grenier | Canada | Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) |