Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield celebrates his goal against the Flyers with teammates during first-period NHL Stanley Cup Eastern Conference playoff action in Toronto on Saturday. Credit: AP/Frank Gunn
The job is not done. The object of the quest requires eight more victories, and nothing short of that will be fully satisfying.
But save such thoughts for Monday night, when the Islanders open the Eastern Conference finals against the Lightning in Edmonton.
For the moment, feel free to party like it’s 1993.
The Islanders deserve it.
Their fans deserve it even more.
Saturday night’s 4-0 victory over the Flyers in Game 7 of a second-round playoff series advanced them to the NHL final four for the first time in 27 years, and a big step closer to their first Stanley Cup in 37 years.