Newsday · Jun 25, 2021
Islanders aware trips to Stanley Cup Final are few and far between
TAMPA, Fla. — The Islanders have reached the NHL’s final four two years in a row and have qualified for the postseason three straight times.
And they knew that type of yearly success can’t be taken for granted.
The Islanders faced the Lightning in Game 7 of their NHL semifinal series on Friday night at Amalie Arena with a chance to advance to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1984. The Lightning beat the Islanders in six games in last season’s Eastern Conference final.
Defenseman Andy Greene and Travis Zajac both played for the Devils in 2012 when they lost a six-game Cup Final to the Kings. The Devils then did not make the playoffs again until 2018.