On May 26, 2021, the New York Islanders eliminated the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games. This was the first time since 1993 that the Islanders won a series at the Nassau Coliseum. The Islanders playoff series win propelled them to the Second Round against the Boston Bruins, and their defeat of the Pittsburgh Penguins symbolized the Islanders coming full circle against the Penguins.

Eight years ago, for the first time in seven seasons, the Islanders returned to the postseason. The Islanders squeaked in as the eighth seed and faced off against the red-hot Penguins. Although the Islanders had grit, they did not have the talent, poise, or experience the Penguins had. Despite their best efforts and all-around gutsy performance, the Islanders fell to the Penguins in six games.

Brooks Orpik, former Penguins defenseman, sent the Islanders packing with a beautiful bar-down slap-shot from the blue line in overtime. Orpik’s overtime game-winner in Game 6 sent the Penguins to the second round. Immediately following the goal, “Let’s Go Islanders” chants erupted at the Nassau Coliseum.

Even though the agony of defeat was painful, fans knew that this Islanders run, where they pushed the best team in the Eastern Conference to six games, was just the start. After seven series of ridicule and disaster, the Islanders looked like they were heading for better days. Although they lost the series, they proved they had what it takes to be there and did not go quietly. The team fought until the bitter end.

And now, eight years and 15 days later, the Islanders eliminated that same team, the Pittsburgh Penguins, in six games. The Islanders clinched the series on home ice in Game 6, the same Game in which the Penguins eliminated the Islanders eight years ago. This was the culmination of the Isles’ journey from the league’s basement to Stanley Cup contenders.

Furthermore, in the 2013 series, the Islanders were able to win both a game in Pittsburgh and at home against a struggling Marc-Andre Fleury. Fleury was then replaced by backup Tomas Vokoun, who was steady for Pittsburgh in Games 5 and 6.

With uncanny similarities to 2013, in the 2021 series between the Islanders and the Penguins, the Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov struggled in Game 2 and Game 3, similar to how Fleury struggled too. The Penguins took advantage and won both games. Both teams that won the series, the 2013 Penguins and the 2021 Islanders, dealt with goaltender issues that allowed their opponents to win games they really should not have won.

The 2013 Penguins went on to lose to the Boston Bruins in four games in the Conference Finals. Now the Islanders are down 2-1 in a series against the Boston Bruins in the Second Round. They hope this narrative stops there.

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.