This one shutout still haunts the New York Islanders to this day

The 2020-21 playoff run for the New York Islanders will always hold a special place in Islanders fans' hearts. This team felt like a team of destiny after Anthony Beauvillier scored the game-winning goal in overtime of Game 6, sending the series to a seventh game. Unfortunately for the Isles, that was not the case as the team came out and laid an egg in Game 7, losing 1-0. But what if things were different? What if the Islanders had scored during the game? That is

The main question you may be asking is: when will this goal come? The Islanders did not generate much offense in this game, only getting 18 shots on net, their lowest total of the series. Well, their best opportunity to score came from Beauvillier once again. Just under three minutes into the game, Beauvillier had a chance at a breakaway but could not handle the puck and got off a weak shot. In this timeline, he is able to gain control and slips a puck through Andrei Vasilevsky's five-hole.

What if the New York Islanders scored in Game 7 of the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals?

This early goal would have been a killer for the Lightning. Coming off the emotional loss of Game 6 and the quick deficit, the panic would have started to set in. It would also take the crowd out of the game early, removing home-ice advantage. This is something the Islanders can capitalize on and play a much more competitive game. While the Lightning could still score in the second, the Islanders will have the momentum and be able to score again, winning the game and the series 2-1.

This sets the Islanders up for a matchup with the Montreal Canadiens in the Stanley Cup Final. This is a perfect matchup for the Islanders, as the Canadiens only reached the Cup Final due to the tremendous play of Carey Price. he fell apart in the Final, averaging more than three goals allowed per game. With the Islanders having the fourth-most goals per game in the playoffs, Price likely struggles again, giving the Isles their first Cup since 1983.

Breaking a 38-year Cup drought would be emotional enough. However, what would make it even more special is that the Islanders got to close Nassau Coliseum with a Stanley Cup. 2020-21 was the Islanders' final season in the Coliseum before moving to UBS Arena. So the fact that the Islanders could be lifting the Cup in the final game ever played there is something you only see in movies. It would be the fairytale ending that fans talk about for generations.

While the way the Coliseum was special, a goal in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, would have made it something out of a movie. It would be the perfect ending for such an important part of Islanders history.

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