The New York Islanders blew a third-period 3-1 lead and were beaten by the Tampa Bay Lightning in their final game for the third straight season, but the legacy of the night may end up being a loving send-off to Slovakian legend Zdeno Chara in what could be his final NHL game.
Chara, an original Islanders draftee who returned this season to cap a Hall of Fame career spent mostly elsewhere, logged 19:24 of ice time and was cheered on by the UBS Arena crowd at each hint of an offensive chance.
They finally got their wish late in the third as Chara scored his 209th regular season goal on a point shot with just 44 seconds left to go, sending the crowd into chants of “CHAR-A!