Anders Lee would have much rather answered my question after a win.
However, the captain’s goal 49 seconds into the Islanders’ 4-3 loss to the Blackhawks needed to be addressed because it allowed him to reach a significant Islanders milestone. That goal, his 16th of the season, was the 305th of his career and that moved him into sole possession of fourth place on the Islanders’ all-time list.
Only Mike Bossy (573), Bryan Trottier (500) and Denis Potvin (310) have scored more goals in an Islanders uniform.
“It’s pretty incredible,” said Lee. “I never would have thought that stuff like this would happen.”
Lee, who will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, was silent for a few seconds after I asked him about the milestone goal because he was clearly frustrated after a stunning loss for the Islanders who are in a fight for a playoff spot. The Islanders’ 6th round draft pick in 2009 is currently in his 14th NHL season, all with the Islanders and he is grateful for his years with the orange and blue.
“You work for it and you get your bounces,” said Lee. “You get opportunities and you do your best to take advantage of it.”
And he has certainly done that.
Lee is now just five goals away from tying another Islanders captain, Denis Potvin for third place on the team’s all-time list. With the Islanders needing every win and every point that they can get to punch their ticket to the postseason, Lee will sooner let everyone else on the team score the goals if it means the Islanders win and they can qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
But, when you look up at the Islanders Ring of Honor and the names who are in the team’s Hall of Fame, Tuesday night’s milestone goal certainly allows Lee to put his Islanders career into perspective.
“In this organization, to have moved into (fourth) means a lot to me,” said Lee. “I take a lot of pride in this jersey and this team. It’s pretty cool.”
And there will certainly be a day when Anders Lee is retired and he’s on the ice with his family as he’s getting inducted into the Islanders Hall of Fame.
That would be pretty cool as well.
