Eyes On Isles
Fansided

New York Islanders: Positives of Penguins Stanley Cup Championship

By Billy Lewis

Nov 30, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; New York Islanders center Ryan Strome (18), right wing Cal Clutterbuck (15), left wing Andrew Ladd (16) fight with Pittsburgh Penguins center Nick Bonino (13) and right wing Tom Kuhnhackl (34) during the second period at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; New York Islanders center Ryan Strome (18), right wing Cal Clutterbuck (15), left wing Andrew Ladd (16) fight with Pittsburgh Penguins center Nick Bonino (13) and right wing Tom Kuhnhackl (34) during the second period at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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New York Islanders fans had to sit through watching the Pittsburgh Penguins win the Stanley Cup…..again. While there may seem to be very little positives on the surface, if you dig a little deeper, Islander fans may actually be able to feel good about it.

The Penguins became the first team since the ’97-’98 Detroit Red Wings to win back to back Stanley Cup Championships. Its also the second time the Penguins have won back to back Championships in the history of their franchise (’91-’92). If New York Islander fans want to take a positive out of this, it would be looking at the season after the Pen’s second cup.

The ’93 Islanders made the playoffs after missing the playoffs in the season prior. In ’93 the Islanders had a first round matchup with the Washington Capitals. The Isles won that series in six games, but of course what became the lasting memory of that series was when Dale Hunter of the Capitals cheap shotted Pierre Turgeon in Game Six.

The Islanders advanced past the Capitals and were set up with a second round matchup against the Penguins. The Penguins won the Presidents’ Trophy with 119 points in 1993. The Isles were big underdogs, but were able to skate with the Penguins. The Islanders fell behind in the series 3-2 but were able to force a Game Seven.

Game Seven would go to overtime, and

David Volek

was able to propel the Islanders to the Eastern Conference Final. The Islanders would lose to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion, the Montreal Canadiens in the Conference Final.

Can History Repeat Itself?

The 2017-2018 New York Islanders will also be coming off of a season in which they missed the playoffs. The Islanders are a team capable of making the playoffs, and just might be able to go on a deep playoff run.

The Islanders will look different next season due to trades and losing a player to the upcoming expansion draft. Speaking of expansion, the 1992-1993 season saw new expansion teams as well (Ottawa Senators and Tampa Bay Lightning).

Next: Looking Back at Dubie's Poke Check

Only time will tell how the Islanders season will shape up. With some luck maybe, just maybe, they will be able to go on a deep playoff run, and wouldn’t it be great to see them knock off the Penguins again next year?

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