Many people doubted the potential of the Islanders as genuine Stanley Cup contenders in 2021. Poor form and results towards the end of the regular season, the loss of Anders Lee to injury and sub-par performances by key players on the ice really didn’t bode well for the playoffs.

However, the Islanders provided a valuable lesson in rising to the occasion. Regardless of expectations or any hurdles in their path, this team provided fans with reasons to hope and believe, even if they ultimately fell short. That in and of itself is worthy of great praise, having earned appreciation and respect for their efforts, from far and wide.

Close Enough To Taste It

If there’s one certainty about the Stanley Cup Playoffs that always rings true, it is that nothing is certain. Comparing the regular season and the playoffs is like chalk and cheese. Some teams can dominate throughout the regular season, only to fail spectacularly in postseason. Meanwhile, other teams can suddenly encounter almost superhuman levels of improvement.

The fact is, the Islanders had nothing to lose here and everything to gain in 2021. After finishing fourth in the MassMutual East Division, many predicted they would be eliminated in the first round against Pittsburgh Penguins. Instead, the Islanders defied expectations with a 4-2 series triumph, surprising those who doubted and undoubtedly delighting those who didn’t.

Beating another strong franchise was cause for more celebration. Beating the Boston Bruins 4-2 over their second round series, despite heavily being considered the underdogs, the Islanders once again toppled the odds and expectations. The reward was a chance to face the reigning Stanley Cup champions, and with many predicting it was the end of the road.

THE BIG CAT #HockeyHugs for Andrei Vasilevskiy with the 18-save #Game7 shutout! #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/5sldO1LLop

— NHL (@NHL) June 26, 2021

Sure, it was the end of the road for the Islanders, although they didn’t bow out without a fight. With the series tied at three games apiece against Tampa Bay Lightning, the chance of reaching the Stanley Cup Finals were so tantalisingly close, you could almost taste it. Unfortunately, the outcome of the final game was less than this courageous Islanders team deserved.

The Lightning shut out the Islanders – who created countless opportunities to score, yet had the misfortune of Andrei Vasilevskiy playing one of the best games of his life. He made 18 saves and, in the end, that was genuinely the difference, with the Islanders unable to find any way past the Russian goaltender.

Agony, frustration, disappointment: they are just a few of the emotions Islanders fans will have experienced. Mix those with hope, excitement, along with a good slice of pride, we have every reason to be happy with the achievements of the team. They did much better than fans or experts realistically expected, which demands the utmost respect.

Watching Avidly From Afar

Surprising as it may seem, while the New York Islanders were bidding to reach the Stanley Cup Finals, their progress was actually being watched by avid NHL fans throughout India. Although ice hockey has yet to gain a strong foothold in the hugely populous Asian country, there is growing evidence of increased interest over the last decade or so.

In general, the growing trend in popularity in the Islanders has made India an important developing market, which organizations like the NBA and the MLB are already keen to encourage. The same can be said for the NFL, which is keen to increase its global profile, whilst the NHL is equally eager to expand its reach in previously untapped markets.

The number one sport for Indians is cricket and this is unlikely to ever change, given the success of their national team and the Indian Premier League, which attracts the best players from all over the world. Amusingly, there are actually some historic ties between cricket and ice hockey, which are often forgotten.

Thank you, #IslesNation. pic.twitter.com/8DUzlYeQn4

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) June 26, 2021

Back in the early days of professional ice hockey, when the Stanley Cup was first awarded in Canada during the 1890s, goaltenders often wore cricket pads to protect their legs. This was before the sport began to develop its own specific equipment. The earliest ice hockey sticks were also more akin to those used in field hockey, which is amongst the most popular sports in India.

These days, thanks to increased access to TV broadcasts and online streams, Indian viewership of the NHL is growing steadily and consistently. In tandem, sports gambling has grown exponentially, with asiabet.org highlighting that more betting markets are available than ever before. Indian bettors are now able to wager on any sport, including ice hockey, which in turn drives additional interest in the NHL.

<p>Due to the huge uptake of sports betting, Indians are now consuming a wider variety of sports. As fans of other the Islanders and other sports will already know, fans from India are also amongst the most passionate and loyal, when they choose which teams to support. Indeed, those who follow the Islanders will have been just as frustrated as their kin from New York, having missed out on contesting the Stanley Cup Finals this year.

Getting To Know Islanders Fans in India

While the biggest base of support for any team is usually local, especially in the NHL, that doesn’t mean fans located elsewhere aren’t as equally passionate in their fandom. Sometimes, it can be an absolute joy to encounter fans of ‘your’ team online, via social networks and fan forums, who hail from countries far and wide around the world. The Islanders have a crew of ‘Isles Meetup’ fan clubs that have swept the nation as the Islanders rise the relevancy.

So, the next time you happen across a fan of the Islanders based out of India or elsewhere, be sure to embrace and cherish that support. Chances are, they are just as passionate about the team as you are, and sometimes even more. Encourage that support, nurture it and help it to grow, as this, in turn, will also help the NHL to blossom in popularity around the world.

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