Not only did the Islanders awaken, they got two goals in the second period, three in the third (two by [Denis Potvin]) and beat Winnipeg, 6-0, as [Bill Smith] earned his 300th victory. The Islanders are three points behind first-place Washington in the Patrick Division and play the North Stars at Bloomington, Minn., tonight.

Daniel Berthiaume replaced [Reddick] for the start of the last period. At 3:59, Potvin took Rich Kromm's pass and scored on a slap shot from between the circles. At 9:32, Potvin got another goal, his 18th. He took Derek King's cross-ice pass, faked Berthiaume, cut deep on left wing and flipped the puck in off the far post for a 5-0 lead.

The two goals give Potvin 309 and 1,047 career points, putting him in 18th place on the NHL all-time scoring list, one more than Henri Richard. "Henri Richard!" Potvin said, feigning ecstacy. "I love it. I'm just reaping the bonuses {of a long career} now."