TAMPA, FLORIDA - JULY 07: The Tampa Bay Lightning celebrate after defeating the Montreal Canadiens 1-0 in Game Five to win the 2021 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena on July 07, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Going into the 2021-22 NHL season, the New York Islanders have their eyes firmly set on the Stanley Cup. Of course, just about every team is hoping to compete for a Cup, but few, like the Islanders are true contenders.
That’s what happens when a team goes to back-to-back conference finals, takes the two-time Cup champions to the brink each year, and stays virtually intact this year.