The New York Islanders suffered a gut-wrenching loss in the 2021 Stanley Cup Semifinals as they were competing for the treasured Stanley Cup, one of the hardest trophies to win in all of sports. Heading into the 2021-22 NHL season, the Islanders have emerged as cup favorites, and here’s why.

A Strong Defense Can Lead the Islanders to the Finals

The saying “defense wins championships” usually seems to be true. Even if in some cases it is not the main reason you win a championship, it gives you a great chance. The Islanders’ defensive core is absolutely loaded. They have shut-down defensemen everywhere you look, but before you even realize it, they could score a goal. The ability to drain the opposing offense out and quietly sneak up and score make the Islanders’ defense elite. With the addition of Zdeno Chara, the Islanders’ defense looks stacked for the upcoming season. Even if the Islanders don’t win the Stanley Cup, the defense will definitely give them a great chance.

Rolling Four Strong Lines

The offensive depth the Islanders have is unlike any other. To be able to get production out of all four lines on any given day makes this team special. Islanders’ fourth-line center Casey Cizikas scored the overtime winner in the second game of the second round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs. A fourth-liner scoring an overtime winner in a crucial game is very unlikely, but Barry Trotz has the ability to put any line on the ice in any situation during the game and get production.

A Goaltending Tandem Towards the Top of the League

With veteran shutdown goaltender Semyon Varlamov and upcoming youngster Ilya Sorokin, the Islanders have one of the best goaltending tandems in the NHL. In the first round of the 2021 playoffs, Semyon Varlamov was struggling, so Barry Trotz decided to put rookie goaltender Ilya Sorokin in the net. He ended up winning three straight games, sending the Islanders to the second round. He then switched to Varlamov when Sorokin cooled down and Varlamov won the Islanders a series. To be able to switch between goaltenders whenever you want without risking a potential win is crucial to team success. 

Team Chemistry Could Be the Key

One thing the Islanders have that many teams lack is strong team chemistry. It is fairly obvious how much the players love each other and the staff. The feel of the Islanders has gone from being towards the top of the list of teams that players did not want to sign with or get traded to, now to having Long Island be a destination that players not only want to go to, but they never want to leave. Nobody on the Islanders plays for themself. Nobody tries to be a superstar. They play for each other and their coaches, which is a characteristic you must have if you want to win a Stanley Cup.

John Smark