Mathew Barzal is congratulated by his Islanders teammates after scoring the winning goal at 4:28 of overtime against the Washington Capitals in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference First Round at Scotiabank Arena on August 16, 2020 in Toronto. Credit: Getty Images/Elsa
Teams are loath to compare one playoff run to another, believing each season is a self-contained effort.
And this postseason, of course, is unlike any other in NHL history, with teams sequestered in arena/practice rink/hotel bubbles in either Toronto or Edmonton to try and complete the playoffs amid the COVID-19 pandemic that halted the regular season on March 12.