Maven's Memories: John Tonelli's Five-Goal Game

It's hard to believe that, to this day, John Tonelli is regarded by some historians as an underrated Islander.
But not by me. He's rated, all right; with an E for Excellence. Exhibit A is a five-goal game he produced in 1981. But we'll get to that in a minute.
Granted that the native of Milton, Ontario is not a member of The Hockey Hall of Fame. But Tonelli's addition to the Nassaumen was as significant to franchise success as any individual's during the four-Stanley Cup-run.

MAVEN'S MEMORIES
WRITTEN COVERAGE
Islanders vs. Leafs 2002
The Sutter Brothers
Kelly Hrudey Origins
How The Trio Grande Happened
Chico Resch's Unforgettable Game
Denis Potvin's Road to the Isles
Ziggy Palffy, Underrated Islanders Hero
Bill Torrey's Origin Story
The Heals and Flats Show
Maven's Haven
"Getting John from Houston at the time we did was one of the best moves of my life as Islanders manager," Bill Torrey reflected after his club won its fourth straight Stanley Cup in 1983. "He was a key to our success."
Before arriving in Uniondale, Tonelli had been an up-and-coming ace with the World Hockey Association's Houston Aeros.
"I was 18-years-old, "Tonelli remembered, "When the WHA was signing 'underage' players. Imagine; I still was a teenager and my linemates were Gordie Howe and his son, Mark. Both are in the Hall of Fame."
Both Torrey and Bow Tie Bill's de luxe scout, Jim Devellano, had their Argus eyes on Tonelli. They finally signed him during the summer of 1978 when John was 21.
J.T. was only 23 when he parachuted a pass to linemate Bob Nystrom for the Islanders first Cup-winning goal. It was just one of many innumerable Tonelli-isms that would brand him as Mister Reliable with a capital R.
"Who can forget how Johnny helped us beat the Penguins with his overtime goal in the 1982 playoffs," recalled Nystrom. "Johnny helped rally our comeback when all seemed lost.

Along with J.P. Parise, John is the best corner man I ever saw. When the puck went in the corner, J.T. always came out with it. I loved playing with him because his effort level never was less than 125 percent.
And when it came to our team needing a big goal, John either would score it or assist on it. Plus, he's one of the most intense players I've ever seen."
Tonelli: "In a lot of ways I was lucky. When I got into hockey, I wound up playing for winners; the Aeros being among them and, of course, the Islanders. With Radar (Arbour) coaching, it always was 'team-first.'"
Behind the bench, Al never was concerned about Tonelli's scoring even though John was less than a grand lamplighter in his first few years. His flawless two-way game was primary; the goals eventually would come.
"Playing alongside Gordie Howe in Houston was a terrific experience for J.T.," said Devellano. "He learned the basics of being a two-way player in the WHA. As young as he was, John showed a veterans work ethic."
During the Tonelli Era on the Island there was a turning point game in which John's image metamorphosed from Honest Workman to Genuine Goal Scorer.
It happened during the 1980-81 campaign as the defending champion Nassaumen were aiming for a second consecutive Cup.
"We knew that sooner or later Johnny would become more prolific as a goal-scorer," said Devellano, now Executive Vice President of the Detroit Red Wings. "It was just a matter of time."
That time came on January 6, 1981 at Nassau Coliseum with the Maple Leafs in town. Arbour made a move he later was to successfully repeat many times in the future.
Radar removed Clark Gillies from left wing on the Trio Grande line -- Clark normally was aligned with Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier -- and replaced Gillies with Tonelli.
"In a situation like that," laughed Tonelli, "the likelihood would be that Trots or Boss would be the one who'd have the big goal night. That was the year Mike was shooting for 50 goals in 50 games."
Midway in the opening period Arbour's brainstorm paid off. Boss and Trots combined to set up J.T. with his 14th goal of the season. The victim was Jiri Crha in the Leafs goal. The time was 10:06.
"We never forgot what the Leafs had done to us in the 1978 playoff," said Glenn (Chico) Resch who was in goal that (playoff) night and was facing Crha. "Revenge always was on our minds against Toronto.
"As for John's contribution, this time in his career he really was coming into his own, but we had no idea what he'd do for the rest of the game."
Less than two minutes into the second period Bossy and defenseman Dave Langevin choreographed passes that enabled Tonelli to foil Crha's attempted save. It was 3-0 New York with two G's for J.T.
Tonelli: "I'd never had a (three-goal) hat trick in my life. I guess Boss knew that because when Mike sat down next to me on the bench after my second goal, he leaned over and said, 'We'll get you three.'"
The Leafs momentarily upset plans when Rick Vaive beat Resch with one second remaining in the middle frame. That made it a 3-1 game and suitably upset Arbour.
What the coach needed -- an early third period goal -- J.T. provided. Just short of the two minute mark, Bossy made good on his promise and John had his first career hat trick and that included his WHA years as well.

In Chris McDonell's book, The Game I'll Never Forget, Tonelli told reporter George Vass, "That third goal, when it came, was about all I could expect. It was a great feeling."
For Radar as well. That made it 4-1 for the home club.
"But the Leafs were not done," sighed Resch. "Ron Ellis beat me a little more than eight minutes after J.T. got his hat trick. And then Vaive scored with about four minutes left in the game. Our lead was down to a goal."
Another Toronto score on this night would have been a nightmare for Tonelli. "The last thing we needed was to let the game get away. My big goal night likely would have been forgotten."
With three minutes remaining, Arbour dispatched the Tonelli version of the Trio-Grande unit out to cement the two points.
Tonelli: "As I moved into the slot, Trots hit me with a pass. Crha had the net pretty well covered so I tried to squeeze the puck inside the left post but the puck went through Jiri's legs."
Four goals in a game was more than J.T. ever had expected. Five? Not a chance. But, then again, you never know.
That chance came near game's end when Crha got the hook in favor of an extra forward. The faceoff was deep in the Isles end. Bossy nabbed the loose puck and detected Tonelli at mid-ice -- uncovered.
How sweet it was.
"All I had to do," John told George Vass, "was keep the puck on my stick, skate and put it in the net. When the puck went in, I almost hit the roof, I was so elated."
Tonelli's inimitable five-goal feat was -- in the long run -- overshadowed by Bossy's 50 in 50 accomplishment, not to mention the Islanders second straight Cup.
Others in Islanders Country may have forgotten, but not The Maven and certainly not John.
"It's something I'll never forget," this unforgettable Islander smiled, "along with our four Cups!"