The New York Islanders have been a great story over the last 10 months, losing John Tavares but sweeping the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the playoffs. Let’s take a look back.

Nov. 23, 2019
The Islanders are currently on their best start in their franchise history. During their magical season last year, they started 14-12-4. To start the 2019 campaign, they are 21-7-2. This team has been sensational and that culminated on Nov. 23 against the Sharks. The game was a loss, but the Islanders managed to secure a 17-game point streak, taking the NHL by storm. In this loss, Islanders hockey was shown as they stayed in a close game and managed to keep up the streak. A streak remembered by all.

Oct. 14, 2019
The New York Islanders had a matinee match up on Columbus Day against the current Stanley Cup champion St.Louis Blues. This was a huge marking point for the boys in blue and orange, as the Islanders were 1-3-0 heading into this game and looked sluggish early on the 2019-20 campaign. The Islanders were outplayed by the champions for most of the game, but managed to pull off a late two goal comeback thanks to Brock Nelson and Mathew Barzal scoring two goals in the final five minuets left to cause some mayhem at the Coliseum. Devon Toews completed the comeback and the Islanders pulled of a complete heist stealing both points from the St. Louis Blues. This game gave the organization and fan base a sign of hope, as the boys would run away with this momentum and go on the second longest point streak in franchise history.

July 1, 2019
The Islanders faithful once again had a horrific beginning to free agency, as star forward Artemi Panarin chose to sign with the crosstown rival New York Rangers and the Islanders chose to sign Seymon Varmalov instead of fan favorite and Vezina-finalist Robin Lehner. The only shining light for the Islanders was succeeding in re-signing captain Anders Lee, something that seemed unlikely after hearing rumors that Lee had an offer on the table for upwards of $9 million a year. Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello was questioned all off-season on bringing in Varlamov, who had a very shaky 2018-19 season but all signs have led people to believe he will be a major key into bringing over star goalie-prospect Ilya Sorokin from the KHL.

May 3, 2019
The Islanders phenomenal 2018-19 season finally came to a brutal end, as the Isles got swept in four games by the Carolina Hurricanes. Despite the rough end to the season the Islanders did the impossible and defied all odds to even make it to the playoffs to begin with, not to mention only falling one point behind the Metropolitan division leader Washington Capitals in the standings and also had the pleasure of sweeping Sidney Crosby and his Pittsburgh Penguins the prior week. After being swept and having the outstanding season the Islanders had, the team had a big off-season ahead as Anders Lee, Brock Nelson, Jordan Eberle and Robin Lehner were all pending unrestricted free agents.

Feb. 28, 2019
The New York Islanders were finally able to welcome back former captain John Tavares and his Toronto Maple Leafs to Nassau Coliseum for the first time since heading home to Toronto. Coming into this game the Islanders were in a bit of a rut, as they were coming off a rough western Canada road trip which resulted in the team dropping three of their four games. The crowd was electric and relentless on the former captain the entire night, chanting things all the way from “We Don’t Need You” all the way to “Barzy’s Better”. The Islanders fed off the playoff-like feeling at the Coliseum and embarrassed the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-1 in Tavares’ homecoming. The John Tavares-less Islanders finally started to receive the recognition they deserved after this game and were looked at as an actual threat to make the playoffs.

John Smark