Eyes On Isles
Fansided

Islanders all-time playoff history against Penguins

By Michel Anderson

PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 16: Anders Lee #27 of the New York Islanders shakes hands with Jack Johnson #73 of the Pittsburgh Penguins at the conclusion of the Islanders 3-1 win over the Penguins in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round at PPG PAINTS Arena on April 16, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 16: Anders Lee #27 of the New York Islanders shakes hands with Jack Johnson #73 of the Pittsburgh Penguins at the conclusion of the Islanders 3-1 win over the Penguins in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round at PPG PAINTS Arena on April 16, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /
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Pierre Turgeon and Steve Thomas return to the ice as the New York Islanders celebrate their 1992-1993. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Pierre Turgeon and Steve Thomas return to the ice as the New York Islanders celebrate their 1992-1993. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

1992-93: Round 2

Result: 4-3 series win
Islanders top scorer: Ray Ferraro & Derek King (8 points)

This was essentially a 360 from eleven years prior. The Penguins were the team at the top of the standings with a 56-21-7 record for 119 points. That was 32 more points than the Isles who had a 40-37-7 record.

The Penguins were also back-to-back Stanley Cup champs with a Hall of Fame roster with players like Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, Ron Francis, and Scotty Bowman behind the bench.

The Penguins were supposed to breeze past the Islanders. Keep in mind the Isles didn’t have their best player (Pierre Turgeon) after he was the victim of a horrendous cheap shot from Washington Capitals Dale Hunter. (Maybe this is why Caps fans love Tom Wilson so much? They’re used to this type of antics?)

Even with Turgeon on the sidelines, the Islanders held their own and pushed the two-time champion to a seventh game. On the way to that Game 7 the Isles picked up a 6-5 win in Game 4 and a 7-5 win in Game 6. The Islanders offense was good but not this good and certainly not without the services of Turgeon.

In Game 7, the Isles held a 3-1 with just over ten minutes left in the third thanks to goals from Steve Thomas, David Volek, and  Benoit Hogue. But the Penguins potent star power couldn’t be contained. Ron Francis and Rick Tocchet scored in the final three minutes of regulation to tie the game and force overtime.

One shot would decide who progressed to the Eastern Conference Finals. At 5:16 a man who had only scored eight times in 56 games would score his second of the game and instantly become a New York Islanders legend. At 5:16 David Volek settled the affair.

Here, relive it through this YouTube clip:

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