Isles Inbox: Bobby Nystrom on 1980 Cup Run

As part of the 40th anniversary of the Islanders first Stanley Cup, Isles legends are taking your questions! Naturally, we're ending with the man who ended Game 6 and officially kicked off the dynasty - Mr. Islander, Bobby Nystrom.
Past 40th Anniversary Inboxes: Butch Goring | Clark Gillies | Bryan Trottier
Question from Jesse Wigler: What was your first reaction to scoring the game winner from Tonelli?
My first thought was, 'thank God this over.' As I've said to many people, it's just a real endurance contest to get to the Stanley Cup Final. When I saw that puck go into the net and I saw Johnny T and Lorne Henning coming at me, I said, 'oh my god, it's so good that this is over.' It was a great feeling.

Question from Nicholas Bufinsky: Did you have a pregame ritual? If so what was it?
I really liked to get to the rink early. I used to go down and change into my long underwear. I'd sit at my stall and put my skates on. Even before that if I had to make some adjustments to my stick, I'd curve my stick. Once I got finished with that, I'd sit in my stall with only my skates and my long underwear on, just to get a feel for the skates themselves. I wasn't quite as extreme as some of the other guys where they had to do everything exactly the same when they got dressed. I'd sit there and have a cup of coffee and get ready for the game.
Question from Steven Woltin: Did you know Butchy was offside?
It wasn't Butch that was offside. I think it was Duane Sutter. What ended up happening is, the linesman was kind of, it might have Butch that skated right in front of him. He didn't the play, but it was at least 8 or 10 inches outside the blue line and Duane went right in and scored, right off that. No question about it. It was offside. I want to stress I was NOT offside.
Question from Kevin Ryan: When THE GOAL went in, you'd just crushed Bob Dailey on the forecheck. Was he as out on his feet as he appeared? To me, that was as important as Persson to Henning to Tonelli to you that immediately followed. Essentially a 5-on-4.
I have to say that I've thought about that hit quite a bit. One of the negative thoughts that I've had was, if I would have gotten a penalty there and they would have scored and won the game, I would have been destroyed. I'm just so thankful that they didn't call a penalty on that. I don't think I hit him that high. I hit him high up on the shoulders, but not on the head. He was just coming out and Lorne, when he intercepted the pass, Dailey was coming out and kind of went across with John Tonelli and I was able to jump by and go to the net and that's really what made the play and Johnny just put that perfect pass on my stick.

Question from Mark Artes: What is your favorite cereal?
Raisin Bran. Cheerios are a close second.
Question from John Salvi: What is your favorite place to eat on Long Island?
Giulio Cesare. Right on Old Country Road. They are just the nicest people. We used to hang out there, they had Islander photos all over. We actually just had a reunion there a short while ago.
Question from Matt Koppelman: What player today most embodies the style of play that you played during your career?
Matt Martin, he plays my style of game. He's a hitter and a digger and doesn't score a whole lot of goals, but very effective on the ice, stands up for players and plays the same way that I did.
Question from Nicholas Canny: Besides the Coliseum, what was your favorite rink to play in?
I really liked to play in the Canadian cities. Very difficult to play in, but the ice was great. Toronto was a spot I really liked to play. And Calgary. I played in Calgary in junior and enjoyed playing in that building.
Question from Daryl Rhea: Who were your hockey inspirations growing up? Did you ever get to play against your idol?
I'm not a Montreal fan, but for some reason Boom Boom Geoffrion was a guy that I watched on TV. He had a great shot and was a right winger and that's how I ended up wearing number five a lot in my youth. When I came to New York Denis wanted number five and I got number 23, which adds up to five. Five has always been a lucky number for me. Vic Hadfield from the Rangers, I kind of patterned my game after him because he was a tough guy that scored goals. I actually ended up fighting him and I felt pretty bad about it, but he was a guy I liked as well.
Question from Phil Ellison: What was your second favorite goal?
It's not my goal. It's Kenny Morrow's goal. Kenny Morrow, John Tonelli and I were on the ice in the fourth cup. It was the fourth game against Edmonton. We were on the ice for the end of the game and we were out primarily to stop them from scoring a goal. Morrow intercepted the pass and he started breaking out of the zone. John Tonelli is going down the left side, I'm going down the right side and we're just screaming at him to give us the puck and he calmly skates across the red line and shoots it and it goes into the net. We went in to hug him and all he said was, "I love you guys." It was the best goal celebration I ever had.

READ: THE ORAL HISTORY OF GAME 6
Question from Brendan Boyle: Who was your favorite teammate?
I'd have to say Garry Howatt was one of my favorite guys. We broke in together. When we first came back together on the Island, he fights Bobby Orr. All he wanted to do at the house was wrestle. He's my favorite, but Clark and I roomed together for a long time also. We had a very special relationship that we still have now and those two guys are really the top of the list.
Question from Jack G: What did you enjoy most about living on Long Island?
I have to say - and we're going through a very difficult time right now - but I feel that the people on Long Island were very close to us. They seemed to be so generous with looking after other people, donating money and we just felt like we were such a big part of the community. I would watch people walking into the building and go okay there's Sherry and Phyllis and there's so-and-so. The relationship on Long Island has been wonderful. I got into business after I finished playing and people were incredibly good to me. I have the biggest praise for them. They've really done right by me and I thank them for that.
Question from Jack H: How important is it to you to be an active member of the Isles alumni?
I really enjoy it. I work closely with Ann Rina. They are constantly asking me to come back and participate in these different events. I'm 67 years old now and people still come up and treat me like gold. Whether it was Barclays or the Coliseum, everyone goes, "Hey Bobby, how are you doing?" and it's incredible. That's why I thank god for the fact that I scored that goal and that people remember me the way that they do. It's absolutely amazing, though they always ask me what happened to my hair.
Question from Matt T: What does it mean to you to be called "Mr. Islander"?
That's the biggest compliment I could ever have. That to me - and when they retired my jersey - that's the best compliment I could ever have. I really, truly feel like Mr. Islander. I've had such a great relationship and people have been so good to me. To me that's the biggest compliment they could ever pay me.
Question from Mike Raffone: What teammate from the dynasty would you argue doesn't get enough credit for his role in the team's success?
Lorne Henning and Billy Carrol. These guys sometimes sat on the bench for the whole game, but they were the penalty killers and there was negative word out of either of those guys. They were the unsung heroes because they did a terrific job on the penalty kill. They went out when they were called for and there was never any negativity on the fact that they weren't playing or getting ice time. Those two guys deserve accolades big time.

FISCHLER: BOBBY NYSTROM - KNIGHT OF NASSAU
Question from Mike C: Did the number 23 have any special meaning to you? Or was that assigned?
When I fill up my coffee cup, it's five ounces. Five was always my favorite number and stemmed from Boom Boom Geoffrion cause he wore number five for Montreal. Denis wanted number five, so I took 23 because it added up to 5. I was really proud of that number.
Question from John McDaid: The road to the 1980 Cup went through LA, Boston, Buffalo and Philadelphia which included three of the top four teams in the NHL. Although you guys had to "make it happen " did you ever at any point feel that you were destined to win?
Never. It took us about three weeks to really realize what we had accomplished. You never have that feeling, it's just something everyone feeling you're going to win the Stanley Cup when you're just starting the playoffs. You want to, no question about it, you do want to. But right down to that last second before the goal went in, you have your doubts.
Question from John Walther: What was it like living on Long Island during the Cup years, being recognized everywhere you went, driving in your yellow Corvette or jogging through the park, always friendly. As a fan we felt so close to you.
I don't think I bought a drink for four or five years. People would want to buy you a drink or dinner. It was great. People would almost drive off the road when they were waving on Hempstead Turnpike or somewhere. It's a special place and I'm just surprised people still recognize me. I look a little different, but it's been great.