The First Hockey Game that Broke My Heart!

The Scene! Under my covers in my room, my Dad sitting next to my bed in a chair, lights out with my little radio on listening to the 1984 New York Rangers New York Islanders game five playoff game. I was eleven years old.

Already knowing the winner of this game would move on and the loser to the golf courses, my heart was in my stomach for most of this match.

With the Rangers trailing 2-1 deep into the third, tears starting to form in my eyes during the last minute of play. Suddenly a light of hope came when Don Maloney would tie the game at the 19:21 mark to even the score 2-2. Only thirty nine seconds left in the game.

I remember the goal being questioned as a high stick, but the goal would stick and regulation would soon end. The final game of this series would need over time to settle it.

As a sixth grader the fear of going to school the next day to see all those Islander fans was just too much. I would have some company though as half my friends in school were Islanders fans, the other half were with me, Rangers fans. Yes it was a school night but I would of stayed up all night listening to this great game at the height of the Rangers Islanders rivalry. As my pops who was sitting next to me on my bed side allowed the late night, he was also a Ranger.

As the Game went on in the extra session, it was just so nerve wrecking I knew that I would bleed blue for life. So much back and forth emotion in a game that stuck till this day.

Glen Hanlon the first huge save on a back hand shot from Bob Bourne. Mike Bossy had a huge chance on a 3 on 1, back the other way Don Maloney came so close to ending it but was robbed by Billy Smith.

Then it would happen, the next goal scored would be the first hockey game to break my heart. Kenny Morrow off a rebound to beat Glen Hanlon.

Well the tears started to flow and my Dad told me don't worry son we'll get them next year. And I would have to face those Islander fans then next day, even though I would have my fun later in the Islander playoff run with all those T-shirts staying Drive for Five. The Islanders who were winners of four straight Stanley Cups would finally come to an end at the hands of Wayne Gretzky and the Oilers.

My Dads words we'll get them next year, but little did I know my next year would come 10 years later and it was well worth the wait.

When I first saw this video again I was suprised of the quality of it on the net for the age of it, 26 years. Enjoy the footage above of this NHL classic game.

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