The Islanders have a rich and successful history in which they’ve won many memorable playoff series. Between the 80s’ dynasty, and some great playoff runs in the 90s’ and 10s’, there has been a lot to be grateful for. But, which specific playoff series were the best of all-time? Of the 31 series the Islanders have won, he are the 10 most memorable.

10. Islanders End a Drought in Brooklyn, 2016

In 2016, the Islanders snuck into the playoffs as the first wild card with a 45-27-10 record and 100 points. They were matched up against the Florida Panthers, who finished in first place in the Atlantic division that season. The first four games of the series were close, each team taking two games, including an iconic Thomas Hickey overtime winner in Game 3. In Game 5, an early Frans Nielsen goal put the Isles up 1-0. This lead lasted about two whole periods, before Aleksander Barkov tied the game and forced overtime in the third period. With four minutes left in 2OT, Alan Quine ripped a one-timer on the power play past Roberto Luongo, and the Islanders went back to New York for Game 6 with a 3-2 series lead. The majority of Game 6 was a disaster as the Islanders could not generate any offense, and trailed 1-0 with an empty net. In the final minute, Islanders long-time captain John Tavares who has scored clutch goals in the past, poked in a loose puck, forcing overtime in dramatic fashion. The 1st OT was scoreless, causing the second 2OT of the series. Halfway through 2OT, Tavares scored a wrap-around series winner as the crowd went wild. They had won their first playoff series in 23 years, their first ever at the Barclays Center, and snapped a streak of seven straight playoff series losses.

9. Islanders Bust Out the Brooms Against the Rangers, 1981

The Islanders were defending Stanley Cup champions, but in order to go back-to-back, the Islanders would have to get past the Rangers. The Islanders took Game 1 by a score of 5-2 and Game 2 by a score of 7-3, with two-goal games from Jon Tonelli and Mike Bossy. Going into Manhattan with a lead, the Islanders continued their dominance. Billy Smith allowed three combined goals on 54 shots in Games 3 and 4, en route to 5-1 and 5-2 wins. The Islanders had convincingly swept the Rangers, and clinched a date with the Minnesota North Stars in the 1981 finals.

8. Islanders Squeeze Out a Victory Against Philadelphia, 2020

Due to COVID-19, the 2020 NHL Playoffs were taking place in “bubbles” as all playoff teams traveled to Toronto or Edmonton, dependent on conference, to control spreading the virus. The Islanders beat the Panthers in the play-in round, and the Capitals in the first round. A win against the Flyers would send the Islanders to Eastern Conference Final. The Islanders came out guns blazing, with an electrifying 4-0 win in Game 1, and soon took a 3-1 lead in the series. The next two games, however, went differently. Two close games ended in Flyers OT winners, and a nationally-televised prime time Game 7 was needed. Head coach Barry Trotz  took out Semyon Varlamov for Thomas Greiss, and made significant changes in the lines for Game 7. Everything he did worked, as the Islanders celebrated a 4-0 win and advanced. This was the Islanders first Eastern Conference Final appearance since 1993, and they were also the last Metropolitan team remaining in the playoffs, a franchise first. They lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference Final, who went on to win the Stanley Cup.

7. Islanders Prevent Penguins Dynasty, 1993

In the first round of the 1993 playoffs, the New York Islanders defeated the Washington Capitals in seven games, but suffered a rough blow in Game 6. While celebrating a goal, Dale Hunter took a cheap shot from behind on Islanders’ star Pierre Turgeon, ending his season. Now, the Islanders had to face Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, and the back-to-back Stanley Cup winning Pittsburgh Penguins without their best scorer. In this season, the Penguins won 17 straight games, a record that still stands today. Unintimidated, the Islanders stole games 1 and 4 with late goals, leading to a 2-2 series tie. After dropping Game 5 by a score of 6-3, the Islanders needed two straight wins against the best team in hockey. Coming up clutch, Steve Thomas’ three-point night lead to an Islanders win. Game 7 then went to overtime tied 3-3. With five minutes left, David Volek, who had scored just five goals that season, scored his second of the night, and one of the biggest goals in Islanders history to win the series. The Islanders had pulled off one of the biggest upsets in NHL history, and slaughtered a potential Penguin dynasty.

6. Islanders Take the Easter Epic, 1987

This 1987 series victory didn’t lead to much for the Islanders. But, it did create a historic moment in Islander history. After splitting Games 1 and 2, the Capitals took the next two, 2-0 and 4-1. Down 3-1 in the series, the Islanders relied on their stars, and it paid off. In games 5 and 6, Pat LaFontaine scored three goals, Kelly Hrudey made 63 saves, and the Islanders forced a Game 7. In Game 7, both teams had two goals to end regulation. Nobody scored in the first, second, or third overtime periods. Finally, Pat LaFontaine ended one of the longest NHL games ever in 4OT. The game lasted six hours, and the Saturday night game finally ended at 1:58 AM EST on Easter Sunday. Kelly Hrudey made 73 saves, and it was the longest game in 44 years at the time.

5. Islanders Come Back from a 3-0 Series Deficit, 1975

In 1975, the Islanders third season, they defeated the Rangers in the three-game preliminary round, officially advancing to the playoffs. When they got there, their lack of playoff experience caught up to them, as their opponent, the Pittsburgh Penguins, quickly took a 3-0 series lead. Frustrated, head coach Al Arbour took out young goalie Billy Smith for Chico Resch. Resch played some of the best hockey in his career, as Pittsburgh couldn’t find a way to consistently score on him. 3-1, 4-2, and 4-1 wins stunned the Penguins, as the series they thought they had locked up was going to Game 7. Nobody scored in the first two periods of Game 7, before captain Eddie Westfall scored in the third. Resch held the shutout, as the Islanders won the defensive game 1-0. To this day, the 1975 Islanders are on a list of just four teams to make 3-0 comebacks in the NHL. This was the first playoff series the Islanders have ever won.

4. Islanders Sweep Canucks, Complete Three-Peat, 1982

After having won two straight Stanley Cups, the Islanders lost just four games en route to their third finals appearance, including a sweep of the Quebec Nordiques in the Conference Finals. Game 1 was exciting, as Mike Bossy netted a hat-trick and the OT winner, capping off a 6-5 win. In Game 2, the Isles put up six goals again, but this time, they all came from different players, leading to a 6-4 victory. Then, a Game 3 shutout from Billy Smith gave the Islanders a commanding 3-0 series lead. In Game 4, Mike Bossy scored the game-winner and an insurance goal, securing the series and the dynasty with a 3-1 win.  Just like that, the Islanders added a third Stanley Cup to their trophy collection, winning all of their last nine playoff contests that season.

3. Islanders Dominate North Stars for Second Cup, 1981

The Islanders won 11 out of their first 13 games to reach the Cup Final in 1981. The North Stars were a surprising team to make it so far, but they were a three-seed and were riding a hot streak. However, Minnesota couldn’t stop the Islanders scorers, as they put up two identical 6-3 wins to start, then five combined goals between Mike Bossy and Butch Goring lead to a 7-5 win in Game 3. Trusting in goalie Don Beaupre, the Minnesota North Stars stayed alive with a 4-2 in Game 4 But it didn’t last long, as the Isles came back with a 5-1 win to steal the Cup for the second consecutive season.

2. Islanders Sweep Gretzky and the Oilers, 1983

The fourth and final consecutive Stanley Cup for the Islanders was very meaningful, as it was the last of the one of the most dominant dynasties in hockey history. The Islanders stand only with the Montreal Canadiens as teams who have won at least four consecutive Stanley Cups. In fact, no team has even won three straight since the early 80s Islanders. In 1983, they had to face the mighty Edmonton Oilers, and the greatest hockey player of all time in Wayne Gretzky. Gretzky had just posted the two highest scoring seasons of all-time, despite only playing four seasons in his career. Later, this would become the second and sixth highest scoring seasons by a player, only topped by Gretzky himself later in his career. Edmonton was so good in 1983, many thought they were the team to finally beat the Islanders. But, the Islanders played defensive hockey, limiting Edmonton’s offense, which showed to be effective. The Islanders won the games 2-0, 6-3, 5-1, and 4-2 and brought out the brooms against a future dynasty. Edmonton only scored six goals in the series, with none from The Great One. With another sweep, the Islanders were four-time champions. The next year, the Oilers got revenge on the Islanders in seven games.

1. Islanders Win First Stanley Cup in Franchise History, 1980

This one should be a no-brainer. Just eight years after the franchise was born, the Islanders were making their mark. The Islanders finished fifth, and had a tough playoff schedule to get to the Final. They upset both the Boston Bruins, who finished fourth, and the Buffalo Sabres who finished second. In the Final, they had to face a beast in the Presidents Trophy winning Philadelphia Flyers, who had two cups in the last five years. Denis Potvin scored an OT winner in Game 1, and two more wins put the Islanders up 3-1 in the series after four games. Due to a strong third period, Philadelphia won Game 5 on home ice to stay alive. Up 4-2 in game six, the Flyers got two late goals to force overtime. Seven minutes into overtime, John Tonelli fed Bobby Nystrom buried it passed Flyers goaltender Pete Peeters. The loving and passionate Islanders crowd went wild, as the team celebrated their very first Stanley Cup.

Ben Kule

Die-Hard Islanders fan and writer from Plainview, Long Island, NY. I have a passion and knowledge for this team and I enjoy sharing that with others