Stanley Cup contenders.
For as long as I can remember, the words New York Islanders and Stanley Cup never sounded right together.
After all, it’s been 36 years since the last time the franchise played for the silver chalice; the fifth time in a row too.
But since then, the Islanders have not come close to possibly playing for the Cup beyond their renaissance season of 1993. That year the Isles went on a magical run to the Eastern Conference Finals, disposing of their same opponent this round — the Washington Capitals — in the opening series and upsetting the defending two-time champs — the Pittsburgh Penguins — before bowing out in five to the eventual Cup winners, the Montreal Canadiens.
And that brings us to now and the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs taking place.
A victory tonight, which clinches a sweep of those Caps, would signal that the Isles are indeed a legit threat to win it all this summer.
Say it with me again.
STANLEY. CUP. CONTENDER.
I know what you’re thinking too: How is this possible after the team was on the brink of missing the postseason before the NHL paused its season? Don’t worry, you’re not the only one.
What’s gonna happen when they still have to go through Boston, Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, Carolina, or even Columbus, depending on how the rest of the series plays out this round?
Those questions will most likely be answered.
But let’s be honest here: With how the Islanders are playing right now, they can play and beat anybody.
Head coach Barry Trotz has this team clicking on all cylinders. Power play and penalty kill aside, they have dominated at 5-on-5, gotten numerous contributions from up and down the lineup, received fabulous goaltending from Semyon Varlamov, and been rolling all four lines which have sucked the life out of the opposition.
Just take it from Mathew Barzal, who scored a beautiful game-winner on Sunday in overtime to give the Isles a stranglehold on their series. After the game, Barzal said he and the team “love it in the bubble” and that they are “having a blast.”
Barzal’s not blowing smoke either.
The Isles are 6-1 since arriving in Toronto. If not for some boneheaded decisions in game three of the qualifying round against Florida, they’d probably be undefeated.
They’ve been able to win several different ways — comebacks, overtime, etc. Their level of play is exceeding almost everyone’s expectations other than Islanders fans themselves. The opposition has literally had no response to their devastating forecheck and sturdy defensive structure.
“We’re just focused on ourselves mostly. With our leadership group, we understand what’s at stake, and we don’t look too far ahead,” Trotz said yesterday.
Trotz is right. Don’t look too far ahead.
Truthfully though, it’s hard not to because it feels like there is something special with this group.
This team is deep. They are healthy. They play for one another. And it feels like they’re never out of a game.
The confidence level is at an all-time high, even more than probably when they swept the Penguins in the first round last spring.
Only a small amount of times over the past 35-plus years can the fans of this team say that. And by god does this fanbase deserve it after all the hell they’ve gone through in that time.
Things have gone nearly perfectly for the Islanders in the postseason to this point. But a win tonight, they can prove something that has been missing for too long for the franchise.
That they are legit, and they should be recognized as a Stanley Cup contender.