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Mathew Barzal's Stanley Cup dream is not a fantasy

Off on Easter Sunday, and still biding time waiting for their next playoff opponent to be determined, the Islanders are naturally taking a businesslike attitude to the Stanley Cup playoffs, and focusing on the task at hand every day, one day at a time.

But the events of the first round so far – Presidents' Trophy winner Tampa Bay getting swept out of the playoffs by wild card Columbus; the Western Conference’s top seed, Calgary, losing to wild card Colorado in five games; Winnipeg going down to St. Louis – have opened a door for all remaining teams to chase the Stanley Cup.