Billy Smith

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Lore & Background

Smith's rivalry with opposing forwards was legendary. Nicknamed 'Battlin' Billy' or 'Hatchet Man' for his fiery temper and unabashed use of his stick or blocker on players crowding his crease, he felt he had to resort to these measures to protect himself when there were few restrictions on contact with goaltenders. In game four of the 1983 Stanley Cup Final, Glenn Anderson of the Edmonton Oilers collided with Smith and Smith dove upon the ice, resulting in referee Andy Van Hellemond handing a five-minute penalty to Anderson. Van Hellemond later said this was 'making a bit of a fool of me', and when he officiated game one of the 1984 Final, a rematch of the Islanders and Oilers, he called no penalty when Smith and Anderson collided again. Smith also refused to participate in the traditional handshakes between teams at the end of a playoff series. During one practice, teammate Mike Bossy fired a shot at Smith to which Smith took offence; Smith charged after Bossy with his stick but was tackled by teammates before he could take his frustrations out on Bossy.

In Their Own Story

The arena hummed with a low vibration, the kind only Nassau Coliseum could produce when the playoffs reached a critical moment. Billy Smith adjusted his helmet-and-cage combination mask, the blue and orange stripes catching the harsh overhead lights. The puck skittered across the ice toward the slot, a deke from a veteran forward who had scored against him before. Smith dropped to his knees, pads spreading like wings, covering the net with a glove hand that seemed to stretch just an inch further than physics allowed. The crowd roared as the save was made, another brick laid in the wall of championships. His single most famous game may be his 2–0 victory in the first game of the 1983 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers, shutting out the likes of Mark Messier, Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kurri, and Paul Coffey. The Islanders swept the Oilers in four games, with Smith allowing the Oilers only six goals and winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as Most Valuable Player in the playoffs.

Reader's Guide

During the dynasty years, Smith anchored a defense that revolutionized goaltending standards. The first Stanley Cup arrived in 1980, following a playoff run where Smith was the goaltender for 20 playoff games and won 15 of them. The following year, the team won their second consecutive championship. In 1982, Smith earned the Vezina Trophy for his excellence. The fourth consecutive championship came in 1983 against the Edmonton Oilers, where he went 13–3 with three shutouts and a goals against average (GAA) of 2.68. He also shared the William M. Jennings Trophy with teammate Roland Melanson in 1983 for allowing the fewest number of goals for the season. These honors established him as one of the greatest netminders in franchise history. His jersey number 31 was retired by the Islanders on February 20, 1993, a permanent tribute to his calm presence under pressure and technical mastery.

Did You Know?

• Smith was the first NHL goaltender to be credited with scoring a goal, doing so on November 28, 1979, against the Colorado Rockies.
• He was the first goalie to win the Stanley Cup wearing a helmet-and-cage combination mask, switching to it in the 1978–79 season.
• Upon his retirement, Smith's 88 playoff wins were the all-time record for a goaltender in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
• Smith was drafted by the New York Islanders in the 1972 Expansion Draft as the second player picked by the team.
• He won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1983 after going 13–3 with three shutouts and a 2.68 GAA.

Early Life and Junior Development

Born in Perth, Ontario, William John Smith discovered his passion for hockey through his older brother Gordie. Initially playing defense during his youth at the Perth District Collegiate Institute, Smith's trajectory changed when a team shortage forced him to volunteer as a goaltender. He quickly embraced the position, enjoying both the unique perspective of controlling the whole game and the attention for having a good game. His competitive spirit was evident early on; in December 1969, during a game in Drummondville, Smith was ran into the crease by an opponent and decided to fight two opposing players that started a brawl, which led to several players ejected. After spending a season with the Cornwall Royals in the QMJHL in 1969, he was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the fifth round of the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft on June 11, 1970. Before reaching the NHL, Smith honed his skills in the minor leagues with the Springfield Kings, where he had six combined shutouts and won the Calder Cup in 1971.

The Rise of an Islander

Smith's professional journey took a pivotal turn when he was selected by the New York Islanders in the 1972 NHL Expansion Draft on June 6, 1972; he was the second player picked by the team. After two seasons sharing goaltending duties with Gerry Desjardins, Smith seized the starting role exclusively in the 1974–75 season when Desjardins bolted to the World Hockey Association. This shift marked the beginning of a historic era, as Smith led the franchise to its first-ever playoff appearance that same year. He quickly established himself as an elite netminder, earning a spot and the MVP award at the 1978 All-Star Game. For two seasons, he formed a formidable tandem with Chico Resch, with whom he formed perhaps the top goaltending duo in the NHL at the time. Smith also made history regarding equipment safety; in the 1978–79 season, he became the first goalie to win the Stanley Cup wearing the helmet-and-cage combination mask, rather than the fiberglass mask which had been the standard since 1959.

Historic Achievements and Milestones

Smith's career is defined by unprecedented individual accolades and unique milestones. On November 28, 1979, he became the first goaltender in NHL history to be credited with scoring a goal during a game between the Islanders and the Colorado Rockies, following a chaotic sequence where an opposing pass from Rob Ramage sailed into their own empty net. His dominance was further recognized when he won the Vezina Trophy in the 1981–82 season in the first season where the trophy was given to the best all-around goaltender, and shared the William M. Jennings Trophy the following season for allowing the fewest goals alongside Roland Melanson. Perhaps his most significant individual honor came in 1983, when he captured the Conn Smythe Trophy for his performance that year where he went 13–3 with three shutouts and a goals against average (GAA) of 2.68 as the Islanders won their fourth and final Cup. By March 20, 1988, Smith had achieved 300 career wins with a 6–0 shutout road win over the Winnipeg Jets, becoming only the 9th goaltender with 300 wins in NHL history before retiring in the following season.

Legacy and Playoff Dominance

While Smith enjoyed regular-season success, his true legacy is cemented by his extraordinary performance in high-pressure playoff situations. Over a span of thirteen consecutive seasons starting in 1974, he guided the Islanders to the Stanley Cup playoffs, culminating in four straight championships between 1980 and 1983. His most famous contest likely occurred during the first game of the 1983 Final, where he shut out the star-studded Edmonton Oilers lineup featuring Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Jari Kurri, and Paul Coffey. Upon his retirement, Smith held the all-time record for playoff wins by a goaltender with 88 victories in 132 combined starts in the Stanley Cup playoffs. His contributions were formally recognized when the Islanders retired his jersey number 31 on February 20, 1993, and he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame later that year. In 2017, his enduring impact on the sport was further acknowledged as he was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in history.

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