Background: The New York Islanders are a National Hockey League team based in Uniondale, New York.

Founded: 1972-1973

Arena: Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum (capacity 16,297)

Uniform colors: dark blue, light blue, orange, white, silver

Logo design: a circle with "NY", a map of Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk Counties only), and the word "ISLANDERS"

Stanley Cup final appearances: 5 (4 wins, 1 loss: 1979-1980 (won), 1980-1981 (won), 1981-1982 (won), 1982-1983 (won), 1983-1984 (lost))

When Long Island was offered an NHL franchise to begin to play in 1972, they have been immediately resented by using the long-established New York Rangers. In addition to paying a hefty growth fee, they additionally had to pay the Rangers for encroaching on "their" territory. The Rangers have been the Islanders' biggest competitors ever due to the fact.

In the primary season for expert hockey on Long Island, the growth Islanders were one of the worst groups in NHL history - winning the handiest 12 video games and tying 6, at the same time as losing 60. The following season, the team employed Al Arbour as head train, and it wasn't long before the franchise became around. After one more season without making the playoffs, the Islanders became one of the league's maximum hit franchises over the next 14 seasons.

After making the playoffs for the first time in 1975, the Islanders, led by means of defenseman Denis Potvin and forwards Clark Gillies, Billy Harris and Bob Nystrom, bowled over the rival New York Rangers in a Best-of-three first-round series. The Islanders received the series within the third game as Jean-Paul Parise scored just 12 seconds into the more session. Additionally, the harbinger of factors to come back for the franchise, the next spherical, in opposition to the Pittsburgh Penguins, became out to be a good larger surprise.

Down three games to none in the Best-of-7 collection, the Islanders rallied to win the following four - only the second one time that has happened in any of the main North American professional sports. It almost occurred a 2nd time, in the semi-finals in opposition to the Philadelphia Flyers. The Islanders rallied from another three-zero deficit to tie it at three games apiece, however, the Flyers took the deciding seventh sport and went on to win the Stanley Cup.

The following two seasons, the Islanders went just as far (even though no longer in as surprising a fashion), dropping each time inside the semi-finals to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Montreal Canadiens. In 1978, they were upset in the second round in beyond regular time of sport 7 via the Toronto Maple Leafs. In 1978-1979, Bryan Trottier led the league in factor scoring, and second-yr man Mike Bossy scored 69 dreams, which additionally led the league. Despite the offensive play, the team lost the semi-finals from New York Rangers. Suddenly, there have been whispers that the Islanders would constantly be the bridesmaid, by no means the bride.

In 1980, the Islanders eventually broke through and gained the Stanley Cup. Trottier and Bossy as soon as again furnished a 1-2 punch on offense, but it becomes Bob Nystrom that proved to be the hero, scoring in overtime in the 6th game of the Stanley Cup Finals to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers.

Bossy scored 50 dreams in 50 video games in 1981 because the Islanders have been the top team of the ordinary season and gained their 2d Stanley Cup, knocking off the Minnesota North Stars in 5 video games. The Islanders dominated the 1981-1982 season as well, at one factor triumphing a then-report 14 instantly games. They gained each the ordinary-season name and the Stanley Cup, this time over the Vancouver Canucks in a four-game sweep. The following season, the Islanders swept the Wayne Gretzky-led Edmonton Oilers to win their fourth directly Stanley Cup -- and last -- also in a sweep.

The Islanders almost made it 5 directly, prevailing a file 19 consecutive playoff matches along the way, but they misplaced in five games to the Oilers inside the 1984 finals. Only once seeing that have the Islanders made it out of the second one spherical of the playoffs.

By the past, due 1980s, Bossy and Potvin -- in conjunction with Hall of Fame teach Al Arbour -- retired, and a getting old Trottier to become plagued by way of injuries. In 1989, the Islanders overlooked the playoffs for the primary time in 15 years. The Islanders re-stocked within the early 1990s, adding players like Pierre Turgeon, Derek King, Ray Ferraro, Steve Thomas, and Benoit Hogue. With Arbour temporarily popping out of retirement, the crew hit paydirt in 1993, mountain climbing out of the cellar and making it to the Wales Conference final, (despite losing Turgeon for lots of the playoffs after a vicious hit via Washington Capitals enforcer Dale Hunter inside the first round.) They defeated heavy favorites and defending Stanley Cup champions, the Mario Lemieux-led Pittsburgh Penguins, in overtime of the deciding seventh game, earlier than bowing out to the eventual champion Canadiens

With the ownership scenario stabilized, fortunes started out to improve. In time for the 2001-2002 season, the Islanders acquired Alexei Yashin from the Ottawa Senators, goalie Chris Osgood from the Detroit Red Wings and Michael Peca from the Buffalo Sabres. The Islanders made the 2002 playoffs earlier than bowing out to a physical Maple Leafs group inside the first round. They also lost the first-spherical collection for the subsequent two years.