It took Billy Smith until his 3rd full season in the NHL (not including the five game stint he had with the Los Angeles Kings in 1971-72) to record his first shutout. But, for the Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender, that first shutout made history. It was also the first blank in the existence of the New York Islanders.
In The Beginning…
Billy Smith got his big break in the National Hockey League after the expansion New York Islanders picked him up from the Los Angeles Kings for their inaugural 1972-73 season. In that first year, the team did not record any shutouts. However, they were blanked by the opposition eleven times.
On two occasions, they were shutout consecutively by the same team. First, in a home and home with the Detroit Red Wings, the Islanders lost 4-0 in both games. Then, it was the crosstown Rangers that blanked the Isles in back to back games, this time by the score of 6-0 in both matches.
It didn’t get much better in 1973-74. Again, no shutouts. However, they were only blanked eight times. Three of those eight were at the hands of the mighty Philadelphia Flyers. Of course, the Flyers would go on to capture their first Stanley Cup championship later that year.
Billy Smith’s First Shutout
1974-75 marked a major turnaround for the Islanders. They suddenly went from expansion pushover to legitimate club. They might not have been yet been contending for the Cup, but they were winning more than they were losing.
On October 20, 1974, the Isles were in Landover, Maryland to face the expansion Washington Capitals at the Capital Center. New York came out on top with a 5-0 victory. However, the Caps weren’t a complete pushover and Smith had to turn away 26 shots to earn the shutout. Denis Dupere led Washington with five shots on net.
The winning goal came early. At 5:30 of the first period, Bob Bourne netted the first goal of the night and the only goal the Islanders would need. That marker was assisted by Garry Howatt and Bob Nystrom.
In Shutout Mode
The second shutout for both Billy Smith and the New York Islanders came much quicker. Just six nights later, on October 26, 1974, the Isles were played at home at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum against the Minnesota North Stars.
Smith made 28 saves that night, five on shots by J.P. Parise. The Islanders came out on top 4-0 for the second shutout in franchise history and the second in the NHL career of Billy Smith. The winning goal came at 10:07 of the first when Clark Gillies scored a powerplay goal with Dennis Hextall in the box for hooking. Billy Harris and Andre St. Laurent got the helpers.
More About Billy Smith
That 1974-75 season, Billy recorded one more shutout for three on the year. Over his 680 regular season game career, Smith put up 22 shutouts. He was perhaps better known for his 489 career penalty minutes.
Smith played in the National Hockey League from 1971-72 to 1988-89. All that time, except for his five games with the Kings in 1971-72, were spent on Long Island. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1993. That same year, the Islanders retired his #31 jersey number.
Billy was awarded the Vezina Trophy in 1981-82. Ironically, he didn’t record a shutout that season. The following year, he captured the William M. Jennings Trophy, this time he did put up a shutout. That same year, 1982-83, he also won the Conn Smythe Trophy after his performance in the playoffs.
A First Team All-Star once (1981-82), Smith helped the New York Islanders to four consecutive Stanley Cup championships.
Billy Smith 1973-74 O-Pee-Chee 242 NHL Hockey Card [YouTube Shorts]
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