Thanks to two goals from Miroslav Satan, legendary coach Al Arbour got his long awaited 740th win with the New York Islanders in his 1,500th game. Arbour, who returned to coach for one more game since retiring in 1994, holds the record for most games and wins with one team. A new banner with his name and the number 1,500 was lowered at the Nassau Coliseum.
People who enjoy sports often like milestones and nice round numbers. Players and coaches striving to reach milestones creates a sort of sport romaticism and mystic, which is one of the very reasons why people love sport. Being a great sport fan myself I guess I am also, to some degree, a sucker for this sentimental love for people giving everything to reach their goals and dreams.
However, even though it was a nice gesture by Islanders coach Ted Nolan to invite Arbour back to round up his game tally to a even 1,500, we have to remember that what really matters are those 1,499 games that he actually coached and 739 of those that he won while leading the Isles to four consecutive Stanley Cups. Those are remarkable figures by a remarkable coach. Coming back to stand by Nolans side for another game is, to be honest and unsentimental, just a bit of unnecessary make-up.
Can we expect to see Mark Messier return to score six more for an even 700 goals, or perhaps Steve Yzerman who quit while still on 692. Maybe the St. Louis Blues or the Edmonton Oilers (who got to enjoy the most of his better days as a player) ought to invite Glenn Anderson back to score two more so he can retire with 500 goals. Don't laugh, it could so happen!
Interestingly, on the All-time goal leaders top 50 list there is only one player with an even hundred number of goals, Hall of famer Lanny McDonald, who retired with 500 goals. He also has the very cool 1,111 career games played.
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