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New York Islanders Five Reasons They Won The First Round

PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 16: Brock Nelson #29 of the New York Islanders celebrates with teammates on the bench after scoring a goal during the first period in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG PAINTS Arena on April 16, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 16: Brock Nelson #29 of the New York Islanders celebrates with teammates on the bench after scoring a goal during the first period in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG PAINTS Arena on April 16, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /
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UNIONDALE, NEW YORK – APRIL 12: Josh Bailey #12 of the New York Islanders celebrates his insurance goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum on April 12, 2019 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders defeated the Penguins 3-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

The New York Islanders completed their first series sweep since the 1983 Stanley Cup finals. How did the Islanders surprise everyone and take care of the Pittsburgh Penguins in four games? Here are five reasons.

All it took was four games for the New York Islanders to power past the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs. How did they do that exactly?

The skill and experience of the Pittsburgh Penguins (Stanley Cup champs twice in the last three years) was enough for some to think the Penguins would “destroy” the Islanders. It’s not like the Islanders were blessed with a ton of quality in the lineup and how knows if what they were doing during the regular season would translate in the regular season?

But the Islanders surprised everyone by holding a potent offense of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Phil Kessel, and Jake Guentzel to just seven points combined. Combined. As in, across all four games.

The Islanders didn’t destroy the Penguins, but they certainly put the rest of the NHL on notice. The Islanders aren’t just some feel-good story. They’re here to compete. Vegas now has the Islanders as 6/1 co-favorites (with the Blue Jackets and Golden Knights) to win the Stanley Cup. That’s right, favorites.

So after four games, the Pittsburgh Penguins have gone home and the New York Islanders carry on. Now the Islanders sit and wait to see who comes out of the Washington Capitals/Carolina Hurricanes series.

How did the New York Islanders sweep the Pittsburgh Penguins in round one? Here are five reasons.

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