The New York Islanders finished the 2019-2020 NHL season leaving the ice in defeat, as they were defeated in six games by the Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning.

This year felt different. In 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2019 the Islanders lost, but were still proud of where they finished. While the Islanders were proud this year, they clearly wanted more.

When the Islanders left the ice in mid-September, they broke from their traditional norm of holding their heads high in solitude while feeling proud that they had pushed the organization’s postseason success further.

The Islanders rightfully hung their heads in heartbreak.

In that moment of defeat, the Islanders wanted nothing more than to continue playing and knew they were good enough to continue playing. The team realized it was good enough to win the whole thing.

The New York Islanders were not content with getting a piece of the cake because they wanted the entire cake.

In Mat Barzal’s eyes, we saw real pain. Johnny Boychuk, in his last act with the Islanders, consoled Barzal in his moment of sadness.

Totally forgot this one from today, Johnny Boychuk’s final moment as an Islander consoling Mathew Barzal after the team was eliminated in game six
pic.twitter.com/Rb1kuJbZVP

— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) November 26, 2020

This was a huge turning point for the organization.

Winning the Stanley Cup is not easy. It is challenging and painful. It questions your sense of purpose and destroys your confidence. However, although it sounds cliché, you indeed have to lose to win.

The Chicago Bulls dynasty did not just appear out of nowhere. It was forged in their early losses to the Detroit Pistons. The Washington Capitals lost, then lost, lost some more, lost again, then again, before they finally broke through and won a Stanley Cup. The Pittsburgh Penguins had to make it to the Stanley Cup Final in 2008 and lose before winning it all the next season. The Tampa Bay Lightning had to lose the Stanley Cup Final in 2015 before winning it in 2020.

And of course, the Islanders lost many times before building arguably the best dynasty in the history of sports.

Losses build character, grit and persistence. They give you the guidance you need to succeed.

Therefore, the pain of being so close to victory and the lessons the Islanders have learned from their past playoff run will pay dividends in the long run.

Ethan Halle

Ethan is an Economics Major at the University of Florida looking to pursue a double major in Sports Management with a minor in political science.