Gord Lane
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Gordon Thomas Lawrence Lane (born March 31, 1953 in Brandon, Manitoba) is a retired Canadian ice hockey defenceman.
Originally selected in the 1973 NHL Entry Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins, Lane did not make the parent team and was released after several seasons in the minors. Signed by the Washington Capitals in 1976, Lane played parts of five seasons with the Capitals, leading the team in penalties in three of those seasons. Unhappy about his playting time with the Caps, he threatened retirement during the 1979-80 season. He was eventually traded to the New York Islanders for forward Mike Kaszycki on December 7, 1979, remaining with that club for the rest of his NHL career. His first game for the Isles was against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, a 5-4 loss. Lane immediately made his presence known during the game, throwing several hits while also getting involved in several scrums. Lane's tough, defensive abilities did not go unappreciated by Islanders Head Coach, Al Arbour, who, like Lane, was a stay-at-home defenceman during his own playing career. Lane helped guide the Islanders steady defence during their four straight Stanley Cup championships (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983). Early in the 1983-1984 playoffs, Lane was injured and missed most of the Islanders playoff run. Lane's presence was sorely missed in the Cup finals, as The Oilers skated the tired, battered, and undermanned Islanders into the ice, dethroning the four-time champions in the process. An underrated enforcer who never failed to come to the aid of a teammate in trouble, Lane has been credited over the years with being the Islanders most effective defender during their Stanley Cup run.
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