Mike Bossy was like a metronome. Nonstop. Inexorable. He scored, then scored again.
The New York Islanders right wing netted 573 times in 752 regular-season games, 85 times in 129 playoff games, 13 times in 15 international games. That’s 671 goals of some gravitas, and a ton looked the same: Blurry release, precise wrist shot, net ripples, red light. Over and over.
Bossy had the quickest release. It was born of skill, smarts and being a talented, medium-sized player trying to dodge contact during hockey’s goon era. It looked like the puck was ricocheting off his stick, yet somehow gaining velocity and accuracy.
Bossy was the second-purest goal scorer ever, trailing only Mario Lemieux. You could make a strong argument for Bossy at No. 1.
Bossy’s numbers and accomplishments will live forever:
• He won four consecutive Stanley Cups with the Islanders from 1980-83.
• He topped 50 goals in each of his first nine seasons. Nine straight 50-goal campaigns remain a record.
• He’s one of five players to score 50 goals or more in the first 50 games of his team’s season.
• He’s the all-time leader in goals-per-game average at .762. (Lemieux is second at .754.)
Bossy retired after 10 seasons because of chronic back issues. If Bossy’s back was OK, Alexander Ovechkin would be chasing Bossy’s all-time goal mark, not Wayne Gretzky’s.
But Bossy transcended stats. You had to see him play. You had to view the interaction of Bossy and his linemates, Bryan Trottier and Clark Gillies, arguably the best troika ever. You had to witness Bossy’s grace and artistry, words that so exactly apply to the Islanders’ No. 22.
Bossy passed away Friday after battling lung cancer. He was 65.
Bossy brought fans to their feet. He turned scoreboards into pinball machines. He had style.
Bossy scored goals. “Watch out for Bossy. He can hurt you.”
Mike Bossy, RIP.
