For 45 years, fans have flocked to the Nassau Coliseum looking to be entertained and catch one of the great moments in Islanders history.

Having qualified for the playoffs for the third time in as many seasons, hopes of a Stanley Cup have once again arrived. Not since the iconic seasons between 1979 and 1984 have there been serious hopes of lifting the NHL’s biggest prize, and even this time out the chances are slim.

Bwin rates the Islanders as the least likely of all the East Division qualifiers to lift the Stanley Cup this season, and with good reason. Poor form through April certainly left fans feeling a little pessimistic about what was to come, and history is not entirely on the side of Barry Trotz’s team.

Still, qualifying for the playoffs was a good achievement and to be constantly in the mix each year is a great way to ensure progression. Dry periods, such as that between 2007 and 2012, make it harder to recruit good players and as such, fans were denied truly great moments.

One thing the Islanders have served up in the past are great memories, outside of that record-breaking run dubbed the Dynasty. Whilst fans yearn for a return to those glory days, they have also enjoyed some other great moments which might not have brought the top prize, but still caused much celebration and delight. Here are three of my favorites.

End of a Drought

The Islanders suffered seven years of playoff pain, spanning two centuries, heading into the 2001-02 season. Having lost to the Rangers in the 1994 Conference Quarterfinals, they endured pure misery, struggling to qualify for the postseason. Michael Peca joined in 2001 from the Buffalo Sabres, traded in exchange for Tim Connolly and Taylor Pyatt. He was captain of the team that immediately looked like viable playoff contenders, but it was not until April 6 that the luck was finally broken. It could have been very different, with New York leading 5-1 at one stage, but the opponents, the Washington Capitals, struck back with three goals of their own. The Islanders held on to end the drought. Losing to the Maple Leafs in the playoffs was almost bearable, and it sparked a three-year succession of playoff qualifications.

New Jersey Nerves

2006-07 might not be the most successful season in Islanders’ history, and it was the only year from seven they qualified for the playoffs, but it was exciting. The game that did push them over the line is as memorable as they come, taking place on April 8 against New Jersey Devils at the Continental Airlines Arena on the final evening of the regular season. All the team needed was a victory against the Devils to edge out the Maple Leafs and make the playoffs. A 2-2 draw in regulation forced overtime, and playoff qualification all came down to a shootout. Wade Dubielewicz was the hero, poking the puck from Sergei Brylin to set up a playoff with Buffalo Sabres.

Arbour Returns

Al Arbour is nothing short of a legend of the ice, both as a player and a coach. In his 22-year career as a player he represented the St Louis Blues, Toronto Maple Leafs and Chicago Blackhawks amongst others, but it is during his time as coach of the Islanders he became a real icon. The Hockey Writers describes the team that lifted four successive Stanley Cups as one of the best NHL teams of all time, and it is hard to disagree. It was the first, and only time a side from the US has managed the feat, and when he retired in 1986, he had coached 1,499 games. In 2007, then-Islanders coach Ted Nolan stepped aside to allow Al ‘Radar’ Arbour one last opportunity to coach the team, his 1,500th game. The Penguins were beaten 3-2 to hand the legendary coach his 740th Islanders win in his final game, one of the most heartfelt moments in team history.

John Smark