New York Islanders

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Lore & Background

Founded in 1972 to block a WHA team from Nassau Coliseum, the Islanders built through the draft under GM Bill Torrey. After two losing seasons, they secured 14 straight playoff berths starting in 1974–75. That year, they rallied from a 3–0 series deficit against the Pittsburgh Penguins, winning Game 7 on a late third-period goal by Ed Westfall. The dynasty peaked with four straight Stanley Cups from 1980 to 1983, the eighth of nine NHL-recognized dynasties. Their 19 consecutive playoff series wins from 1980 to 1984 remains unparalleled in professional sports. Ten former Islanders are in the Hockey Hall of Fame, including seven from all four Cup-winning teams: Mike Bossy, Clark Gillies, Denis Potvin, Billy Smith, Bryan Trottier, coach Al Arbour, and GM Bill Torrey. Post-dynasty inductees include Pat LaFontaine, Roberto Luongo, Pierre Turgeon, and Zdeno Chara.

In Their Own Story

On October 12, 1972, the expansion Islanders earned their first win, 3–2 against the Los Angeles Kings. The team set an NHL record for most losses in a season with a 12–60–6 mark, but a highlight came on January 18, 1973, when they defeated the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins 9–7. In the 1974 draft, Torrey added Clark Gillies and Bryan Trottier. The 1974–75 season saw a 32-point improvement to 88 points, earning their first playoff berth. They defeated the Rangers in a best-of-3 first-round series when J. P. Parise scored 11 seconds into overtime of Game 3. Down 3–0 to the Penguins in the next round, they won four straight, taking Game 7 on Westfall's late third-period goal.

Reader's Guide

The Islanders' early years were defined by Torrey's commitment to building through the draft. He turned down lucrative offers from Montreal to select Denis Potvin first overall in 1973. Potvin won the Calder Memorial Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year in 1973–74. Al Arbour was hired as head coach before that season. The team allowed 100 fewer goals than the previous season. Key figures from the dynasty include Billy Smith, Bob Nystrom, and Lorne Henning, all drafted in 1972. The franchise struggled after the dynasty with money, ownership, management, an aging arena, and low attendance. They have not won a division title since 1987–88 and went 22 seasons without a playoff series win before 2016. The team relocated to Barclays Center in Brooklyn after 2014–15, split home games between Barclays and Nassau Coliseum in 2018–19 and 2019–20, played all home games at Nassau Coliseum in 2020–21, and opened UBS Arena near Belmont Park in 2021.

Did You Know?

• The Islanders' 19 consecutive playoff series wins between 1980 and 1984 is unmatched in professional sports history.
• They are the last team in any major North American professional sport to win four consecutive championships.
• The team's first win came on October 12, 1972, a 3–2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings.
• Denis Potvin, drafted first overall in 1973, won the Calder Memorial Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year.
• The Islanders rallied from a 3–0 series deficit to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1975 playoffs.