Jason Blake

Number: 14, 55
Born: Moorhead, MN, 9/2/1973
Position: Center/Left Wing

 

      Jason Blake was acquired by the Islanders from the Las Angeles Kings on January 3, 2001 for a conditional draft pick. The Isles eventually sent a 2002 5th round pick to LA(D Joel Andresen, 157th overall). The Islanders were struggling during 2000-01, but Blake immediately brought a much needed asset to the lineup, speed. He is arguably the fastest skater in the entire NHL. Jason suffered through a trying time shortly after joining the Isles. His wife Sara, who was pregnant with their first child, was diagnosed with thyroid cancer midway through the pregnancy. Blake asked Islanders GM Mike Milbury for a leave of absence so he could join his wife back in LA. Milbury said yes, but before Blake left he had a career game against the arch rival New York Rangers as he scored two goals in a 5-2 win at Madison Square Garden on March 5, 2001. Nobody knew of Jason's situation except those close to him and the team. 

      Later in March Jason's healthy daughter Lauren was born and Sara's thyroid cancer was removed. Both are doing fine today and Jason was able to clear his mind coming into the 2001-02 season. With all the changes over the summer, it was sure to be a good one and Jason would be a big part of it. Blake teamed up with Claude Lapointe to form the Islanders second penalty killing unit, and they played together for most the season on the fourth line along with Steve Webb. He helped the Islanders penalty killing unit to amass a league leading 17 goals and his speed frustrated opponents on many nights.

     Blake's role changed with the Islanders starting with the 2002-03 season and it was much to do with his own credit. In his fourth full NHL season the offensive talents that Blake displayed in his collegiate days finally blossomed as he tripled his career high in goals with 25 and set new marks in points(55) and assists(30). From that season until today Blake has become on of the Islanders go to players on offense. After another 20 goal season in 2003-04, he didn't slow down following the lockout as Blake recorded another career season of 28 goals and 57 points in 76 games played during 2005-06. In February of 2006 Blake represented Team USA at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turino, Italy. 

     Blake was signed as an undrafted free agent by LA on April 17, 1999 out of North Dakota, where he was named the WCHA player of the year in 1998-99 and twice was named as a Hobey Baker finalist.  

 

 

  

Milestone(s):

  • Islander debut 1/4/01 at New Jersey
  • First Islander point/assist 1/4/01 at New Jersey
  • First Islander goal 2/14/01 vs. Philadelphia
  • 100th NHL game 2/14/01 vs. Philadelphia
  • 100th game as an Islander 3/23/02 vs. Minnesota
  • 200th game as an Islander 10/25/03 vs. Pittsburgh
  • 300th career NHL game 12/10/03 at New Jersey
  • 100th point as an Islander 12/23/03 vs. Philadelphia
  • 100th career NHL assist 11/16/05 at Atlanta
  • 300th game as an Islander 12/23/05 vs. Ottawa
  • 400th career NHL game 2/8/06 at Philadelphia
  • 200th career NHL point 2/11/06 at New Jersey
  • 100th assist as an Islander 4/8/06 vs. Washington
  • 100th career NHL goal 10/31/06 vs. Chicago
  • 200th point as an Islander 11/2/06 at New Jersey
  • 100th goal as an Islander 11/25/06 vs. Washington
  • 400th game as an Islander 2/10/07 at Boston
  • 500th career NHL game 3/24/07 at Philadelphia

Hat Tricks

  • 1/11/03 vs. Atlanta ( Byron Dafoe )
  • 3/19/04 vs. Minnesota ( Dwayne Roloson )
  • 11/26/05 at Philadelphia ( Antero Nittymaki )
  • 12/19/06 at NY Rangers ( Kevin Weekes )
  • 2/27/07 vs. Philadelphia ( Antero Nittymaki )

 

 

Season  Club                League  GP   G   A  Pts  PIM
--------------------------------------------------------
2000-01 New York Islanders  NHL     30   4   8   12   34
2001-02 New York Islanders  NHL     82   8  10   18   36
2002-03 New York Islanders  NHL     81  25  30   55   58
2003-04 New York Islanders  NHL     75  22  25   47   56
2005-06 New York Islanders  NHL     76  28  29   57   60
2006-07 New York Islanders  NHL     82  40  29   69   34
--------------------------------------------------------
                            Total  426 127 131  258  278




 

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1998-2007 Tom Mascioli
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