For the second straight year, the New York Islanders are heading to the Stanley Cup Semifinals. Let’s take a look at how the Islanders got here and what to expect the rest of the way.

Islanders Stun The Penguins

After the Islanders swept the Penguins in 2019, the two teams met for a rematch. The Islanders got off to a hot start by winning Game 1 in overtime.

However, the turning point in the series was when the Islanders went into Pittsburgh with the series tied 2-2. The Penguins were outshooting, outplaying and outworking the Islanders. They did a great job of holding the Penguins’ shots to the outside, which kept the Islanders in the game. They found a way to score two goals and tie the game. After an evenly played overtime by both teams, Penguins’ goaltender Tristan Jarry made a careless turnover and Josh Bailey sent Long Island into a frenzy.

With momentum from Game 5, the Islanders took out the first-place team in the East Division in Game 6. In the final minutes, the fans chanted “We want Boston,” and they got Boston.

The Islanders Advance To Stanley Cup Semifinals

The Islanders took on the big bad Bruins in the Second Round. After Game 1, they really looked like the big bad Bruins. David Pastrnak notched a hat trick in Game 1 creating bedlam at TD Garden. Rally towels and hats rained down onto the ice. After a demoralizing loss, it seemed impossible to win in Boston.

Indeed, despite leading 3-1 at one point, Game 2 was tilted in the Bruins’ favor. The Islanders kept the game and pulled off some overtime magic. Casey Cizikas picked off a bad Bruins’ bounce, put the Islanders on his shoulder, and won the game in overtime.

By Game 5, the series was tied 2-2. The Bruins heavily outshot the Islanders, but the Islanders played better. They were stealing the puck, and making smart decisions with it. They scored five goals and won 5-4 in Boston. The Islanders then returned home for Game 6 and put on a show, winning 6-2. Game 6 wasn’t even close and the Islanders moved on again.

The New York Saints Are Born

After a Game 5 loss with weak officiating, the NHL fined Bruins’ head coach Bruce Cassidy $25 thousand for his postgame comments.

“It’s a very well-respected management and coach staff over there,” Cassidy said after the Isles scored three power-play goals in Game 5. “But they sell a narrative over there that they’re the New York Saints rather than the New York Islanders.”

Cassidy implied that the referees were in the Islanders’ favor. Islanders fans immediately started blowing up social media. Then, after taking two consecutive penalties in Game 6, the fans chanted “New York Saints.” Ironically, the Bruins scored the only power-play goals that game. The Islanders scored six at even strength.

When the S̶a̶i̶n̶t̶s̶ Islanders go marching in ⚜️

Congrats @NYIslanders #StanleyCup https://t.co/qdBk93rz6F pic.twitter.com/QjZvrLbVrr

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) June 10, 2021

Islanders Seek To Dethrone The Champions In Semifinals

There is something really special about this team. Obviously Tampa Bay is way better than the Islanders on paper. But the Islanders play really well as a team. Last year, in a bubble with no momentum from the crowd, the Islanders forced the Lightning to six games and nearly forced Game 7. Now, both teams will play at their own arenas. If the Islanders can continue stealing games on the road and using home ice to their advantage, they can win.

John Smark