Beginning in the 1974-75 season, the New York Islanders would make the playoffs five straight seasons and in four of those years would come up just short of reaching the Stanley Cup Final. There was no question that the Islanders were an incredible team but just couldn't get over the final hurdle.
That all changed during the 1979-80 season when the Islanders made a trade before the trade deadline with the Los Angeles Kings for center Butch Goring. The trade with the Kings included Billy Harris and Dave Lewis going to Los Angeles in return for Goring.