Four Stanley Cups in a row. It hasn’t been done since, and it may never happen again...
Four Stanley Cups in a row. It hasn’t been done since, and it may never happen again, given the parity and salary-cap restraints of today’s NHL.
But give the New York Islanders credit: they went through the playoff wars four times and came out on top. Hall of Famer and captain Denis Potvin was a big part of a defense corps that helped the Isles beat Edmonton in 1983, limiting the high-flying Oilers to just six goals in a four-game sweep. Of course, goalie Billy Smith was massive for New York as well, and his Conn Smythe Trophy backs that up. “Our guys are never satisfied,” said Islanders GM Bill Torrey after the win. “Who knows how long they’ll keep it up.”
As it turns out, they kept it up until the next year’s Cup final, where the Oilers got their revenge and knocked New York off its pedestal. But the Islanders still won 19 playoff series in a row, an NHL record that stands to this day.
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