Trottier had historic period for Islanders 42 years ago

Legendary hockey reporter Stan Fischler, known as "The Hockey Maven," shares his humor and insight with readers each Wednesday. This week Stan offers his monthly feature, "A Picture Is Worth 100 Words."
Today's photo of Bryan Trottier coincides with the 42nd anniversary of his early Christmas present to the New York Islanders. In a game against the archrival New York Rangers at Nassau Coliseum on Dec. 23, 1978, the future Hall of Fame center set an NHL record with six points (three goals, three assists) in the second period of what became a 9-4 victory .

From his first season in 1975-76, when he set an NHL record for rookies with 95 points (32 goals, 63 assists) for the New York Islanders,
Bryan Trottier
established himself as one of the League's elite centers. Two days before Christmas in 1978, he broke the
NHL record for points in a period
with six in a game against the New York Rangers at Nassau Coliseum. Ironically, one of eight players to share the previous record of five points in a period was
Bill Cook
, the first captain of the Rangers, who scored three goals and assisted on two others
against the New York Americans
at Madison Square Garden on March 12, 1933.

With the game tied 1-1 entering the second period on goals by Trottier and Rangers defenseman
Ron Greschner
, he set up linemate
Mike Bossy
at 1:11 for the first of five consecutive Islanders goals. Trottier scored his second of the game at 3:41, assisted on goals by
Garry Howatt
at 5:08 and Bossy at 11:21, then completed his hat trick at 18:39 and set the single-period points record (that still stands) 55 seconds later with his fourth goal of the night.
Trottier scored a power-play goal at 7:38 of the third period for an eight-point night, helping the Islanders give coach Al Arbour and the full house at the Coliseum an early Christmas present with a
9-4 win
against their biggest rival. The eight points helped Trottier win the
Art Ross Trophy
as the NHL scoring champion and the
Hart Trophy
as League MVP in 1978-79.