Nov. 28, 1979 - Billy Smith is given credit for a goal in a 7-4 loss to the Colorado Rockies. 

With the goal, Smith became the first NHL goaltender to be credited with a goal.

Nov. 27, 2002 - The Islanders debut the team's first "third jersey" in a 2-2 tie against Ottawa. 

The primarily orange uniform is worn until the end of the 2006-07 season. Since the Isles debut of the third jersey, the Isles have had a total of six different third jersey concepts used. 

Are you kidding me?

Trying to pick a game that I'll never forget is like looking up at the evening sky and picking out my favorite star.

So, so many.

Johnny Boychuk was visibly emotional as he addressed the media following the announcement that his accomplished 13-year NHL career had come to an end, due to an eye injury suffered during the 2019-20 regular season.

The way Johnny Boychuk played the game left a mark.

Boychuk's second-last NHL game was emblematic of that and by extension his character and career. After missing a month-and-a-half of the playoffs, Boychuk returned for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final, bringing some veteran leadership to a team trying to keep its season alive

Johnny Boychuk's 13-year NHL career officially came to an end on Wednesday, due to a recent eye injury. Boychuk arrived on Long Island in 2014, scoring 35 goals and 96 assists for 131 points in 404 games with the Islanders over that span. During that time, Boychuk made an impact on the community, the team and his teammates - and provided plenty of photogenic moments. In honor of a great career, NewYorkIslanders.com compiled 55 photos of Johnny Boychuk as an Islander.

After numerous and extensive medical exams, New York Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk's career has come to an end, due to an eye injury suffered during the 2019-20 regular season. The most recent injury was the second to the same eye.  

The 36-year-old native of Edmonton, Alberta has played the past six seasons with the Islanders, scoring 35 goals and 96 assists for 131 points in 404 games. Over the course of his 13-year career with the Colorado Avalanche, Boston Bruins and Islanders, Boychuk played in 725 games, scoring 206 points (54 goals and 152 assists). He was acquired by the Islanders in 2014 from the Bruins and went on to have a career year in goals (nine), assists (26) and points (35) that same season (2014-15). 

Boychuk played in 104 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, scoring 30 points (13 goals and 17 assists). He was a member of Boston's 2011 Stanley Cup Championship team, playing in all 25 games that playoff, scoring nine points (three goals and six assists).  

As part of our Hockey Fights Cancer initiative, presented by Northwell Health, NewYorkIslanders.com is asking you to share inspirational stories of a fight against cancer. They can be personal stories, or stories of an inspirational family member or friend battling cancer or a selfless caregiver providing support. Share stories here. 

Jump to a story: Jackie Barber | By Joel Evans | By Matthew Goldstein | By Brian Garczynski

MY HOCKEY FIGHTS CANCER STORY

BY MAXINE BABB

I'd like to being by saying... "I am a pancreatic cancer survivor!" 

My story began in July of 2019 just as my husband was recovering from a battle with Lupus. He was newly diagnosed in February 2019 at the age of 62. We both led healthy lifestyles so you can imagine the surprise when we were told of his new health status. 

Thanksgiving looks and feels different this year, but the New York Islanders were adamant that one important thing remains the same - that no family should be hungry during it.

On Tuesday, the Isles and Uncle Guiseppe's Marketplace provided 100 Thanksgiving meals to Long Island families in need. The families, who were selected by local food banks LI Cares, Island Harvest and Rock and Wrap It Up, received a turkey and trimmings to feed six-to-eight people. Sparky the Dragon was also on hand to greet families and wish them a happy Thanksgiving. 

The stakes are different, but the values of a hockey team and a military unit run parallel. Things like teamwork, camaraderie, looking out for the person next to you, following a plan and working hard to achieve a goal. Hockey teams preach things like battle level, but the men and women of our military have seen the real thing upon deployment. 

It's those similarities that make hockey - and other team sports - such a natural fit for veterans upon returning home. Of course, some of our nation's vets haven't had the opportunity to play the game, so the New York Islanders and USA Hockey wanted to change that by hosting a Try Hockey For Free event for vets on Monday.