John Tavares: All-Star
by Dominik on Jan 12, 2012 1:46 PM EST
in Bits o' Islanders News
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PrintAs noted elsewhere and in IslesJabronie's Fanshot, John Tavares has indeed been named to the All-Star Game roster, his first.
Why? Probably because of plays like these [video]. Crazy to imagine the passes he might make in the defense-free, no-pressure All-Star shinny.
Here are a few quotes from Jack Capuano and Kyle Okposo. Tavares joins some pretty fantastic company among the list of 2012 All Star Game Weekend selections.
Don't want to rip who's not there nor quibble with who is, but the most shocking name on that list to me -- though not so, based on his stellar numbers -- is Brian Elliott. I dismissed Elliott's NHL future over the summer and thought he was a silly signing for the Blues, so as soon as I finish this post I'll pull out that plate of crow I have warming up in the microwave.
Cheers to the whole lot of 'em. But especially to Tavares.
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this is so exciting!
now would probably be an excellent time to call a timeout… so no one gets injured.
by noomz on Jan 12, 2012 3:11 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
........
"We owe him a lot more than he owes us at this point. He's been stellar all year. He still gave us a chance to win this one, and we've got to find a way."
—C Josh Bailey, on G Al Montoya after a 5-3 loss Tuesday in Montreal.
by BobbyNystromOwnsYou on Jan 12, 2012 1:56 PM EST reply actions 3 recs
That captures the essence of JT...
That guy is something else…I think the only thing he needs to work is his shot…If he had a Stamkosian shot he’d be a 50 goal socrer.
Was thinking about that last night
Crosby worked on faceoffs one summer, improving his shot the next…
Not comparing them in level of stardom, but Tavares’ work on his body and skating the past few summers, and his improving faceoff totals … makes me wonder if he’ll have a Shot Program on his next software upgrade.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
I don't see why he isnt at the level of the so called "generational players"...
He so damn good…So strong on the puck…He has so much skill and he wants to be the best…
Congrats JT!!
Can we wrap him in bubble wrap before the game?
by GreekIsles83 on Jan 12, 2012 1:59 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Can someone with an ESPN Insider's account provide an analysis of ESPN.com's article about the "Top 25 players under 25"
and how Tavares was possibly left off that list? I’m just going off of what was posted on ESPNnewyork.com.
No probs with the Top 14 (mostly). Everyone after that is an outrage
Top 25 NHL players under age of 25
1. C Jonathan Toews
Chicago Blackhawks, 23 years old
2. C Sidney Crosby
Pittsburgh Penguins, 24 years old
3. C Nicklas Backstrom
Washington Capitals, 24 years old
4. RW Patrick Kane
Chicago Blackhawks, 23 years old
5. G Tuukka Rask
Boston Bruins, 24 years old
6. C Steven Stamkos
Tampa Bay Lightning, 21 years old
7. RW Claude Giroux
Philadelphia Flyers, 24 years old
8. C Anze Kopitar
Los Angeles Kings, 24 years old
9. RW Phil Kessel
Toronto Maple Leafs, 24 years old
10. D Drew Doughty
Los Angeles Kings, 22 years old
11. G Carey Price
Montreal Canadiens, 24 years old
12. LW Bobby Ryan
Anaheim Ducks, 24 years old
13. C Jordan Staal
Pittsburgh Penguins, 23 years old
14. LW Milan Lucic
Boston Bruins, 23 years old
15. LW James Neal
Pittsburgh Penguins, 24 years old
16. D Marc-Edouard Vlasic
San Jose Sharks, 24 years old
17. RW Chris Stewart
St. Louis Blues, 24 years old
18. D Alex Pietrangelo
St. Louis Blues, 22 years old
19. G Semyon Varlamov
Colorado Avalanche, 23 years old
20. C Patrik Berglund
St. Louis Blues, 23 years old
21. LW David Perron
St. Louis Blues, 23 years old
22. C Bryan Little
Winnipeg Jets, 24 years old
23. D Kris Letang
Pittsburgh Penguins, 24 years old
24. LW Sergei Kostitsyn
Nashville Predators, 24 years old
25. G Michal Neuvirth
Washington Capitals, 23 years old
And Seguin!! HOW IS SEGUIN NOT THERE??
Ridiculous list. It’s pissing me off lol
by Metzfan22 on Jan 12, 2012 2:48 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I'd rather have Karlsson and Tavares...
…than Vlasic and Varlamov.
We may be in the box, but you get the penalty.
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
Non-hockey scribblings at nightflyblog
Yeah, what's the Dill with Vlasic?
Putting him on the list puts ESPN in a real pickle. Although, I guess that’s their bread and butter.
/sorry
"He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot" - Mike Milbury on Ziggy Palffy's agent. On Twitter: @Dan_of_Science
by PGI on Jan 12, 2012 3:14 PM EST up reply actions 5 recs
that's ok
A joke shouldn’t make anyone sour.
We may be in the box, but you get the penalty.
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
Non-hockey scribblings at nightflyblog
by mikb on Jan 12, 2012 3:53 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs
Two minutes to each of you
Spearing.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
by Dominik on Jan 12, 2012 4:34 PM EST up reply actions 5 recs
Umm...
Uhhh…something about a stork
The New York Islanders: saving their best for the wrong conference since '05
by Chris McNally on Jan 13, 2012 2:59 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I was really hoping
someone more creative than me was going to work in gherkin.
by afrosupreme on Jan 13, 2012 10:03 AM EST up reply actions
STOP THE MADNESS!!!
Ok, somebody reel in the bad, and getting worse, pickle jokes, eh? Come to your senses, people….
He shoots...he scoororreessss....Go Islanders!!!!!
Youre getting chippy, arent you!
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 13, 2012 7:26 PM EST up reply actions
Tavares is 22nd in the league
in Points but not among the top 25 under 25? ESPN is clueless about Hockey.
"Line brawl på Long Island!? Matt Moulson i huvudrollen!!!?! Wot!?" SwedishIslander
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
Basically
if you look, the guy is more heavily weighting experience over perceived skill. There’s only one 21 year old on the list, and it’s Stamkos, who is a draft year ahead of JT anyway. There’s no one from JT’s year, or after on the list.
Pretty solid list...
but if you use a standard of “would I trade this guy for this guy”, JT bubbles up into the top ten pretty quickly.
and funny how this works… but with his contract, and injury I’m not sure Crosby is in the top 25. the poor bastard might not have a GP after 25.
I've had enough! It's time to call out Garth Snow!
@JPinVA
"would I trade this guy for this guy",
I was thinking this exactly and therefore this list doesn’t pass the smell test. I think they tried to prove their hockey cred a little too hard by going outside the box and then looking stupid.
I mean, Varlamov.
Really?! Varlamov?!?
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
Berglund over Tavares?!?!
(Now I’m really sorry I even looked at this list.)
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
I looked at the list...
Vurped a little. Then went on with my day.
by CloseCallJiggs on Jan 12, 2012 6:25 PM EST up reply actions
But the Avalanche have been very good for the last month or so
Check back next week.
"He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot" - Mike Milbury on Ziggy Palffy's agent. On Twitter: @Dan_of_Science
Making a list of Top 25 under 25 ONLY about accomplishments so far makes absolutely no sense.
Player’s under 25 are 75% potential, 25% accomplishments so far, maybe even less. I mean, how many players on this list would every GM in the league trade straight up for JT? At least 4 or 5 right? Probably more. And to me that is the the true test of a players value.
agreed
But this is the Entertainment Showoffs and Poker Network. No sense looking to them for logic.
We may be in the box, but you get the penalty.
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
Non-hockey scribblings at nightflyblog
by mikb on Jan 12, 2012 3:55 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Funny you mention this
Deadspin just posted an article reporting that:
ESPN Broke Its Own Record By Making 160 Tim Tebow References In One Hour Of SportsCenter….For 48 minutes of programming, that works out to one “Tebow” every 18 seconds.
Success was survival and, kid, it still is
by IslesFanInNJ on Jan 12, 2012 5:34 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Good for John
….now let’s get to work on that fake cough to avoid those franchise crippling injuries.
The New York Islanders: saving their best for the wrong conference since '05
by Chris McNally on Jan 12, 2012 2:27 PM EST reply actions 7 recs
Im not sure what carerful means
damn my keyboard
The New York Islanders: saving their best for the wrong conference since '05
by Chris McNally on Jan 12, 2012 2:28 PM EST up reply actions
Probably next to ruh-roh and zoinks
in the alternative thesaurus.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
THEORY: I think Rick has taken to smoking pot to help deal with the pain of his injuries.
Would explain both the beard and using words that are almost English, but just slightly off, ie, “Carerful,” accompanied by that dopey grin of realization that he just made up a totally awesome word. “Yo, tell Comeau I said ‘carerful’, yo, Blake…Blake?…yo, where’ Comeau at, bro?”
by Les Beaver on Jan 12, 2012 2:40 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
So wrong
So right.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
I'm such a terrible person
I see the top photo and not only grin because it’s JT’s first goal, but also because Cooke and Fleury are such sad pandas.
We may be in the box, but you get the penalty.
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
Non-hockey scribblings at nightflyblog
by mikb on Jan 12, 2012 2:32 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
It is a nice bonus
I mean, the photo is great in its own right. Then you add that sprinkling of panda meat and it’s just scrumptious.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
Great
I think the big reason is that he has played his best first half of the 3 seasons he has been here. The past few years he seemed to get hot after the mid way point of the season. If that holds true again we may see some awesome numbers by the end of the season
Any task BIG or small, Do it well or not at all
wouldn't surprise me to see Moulson if a slot opens up
Any task BIG or small, Do it well or not at all
So Tavares is an All-Star...
… I wonder who will take over for him on the top line when he gets the inevitable Isles All Star Injury?
Yet another Moulson brother-in-law.
by ICanSeeForIslesAndIsles on Jan 12, 2012 2:45 PM EST reply actions
I'll take NHL All Star Game records for $100, Alex
Mats Naslund had 5 of these for the Wales conference in 1988.
What is assists?
Correct!
Tavares can top that. Get him on a line with one of the premier finishers and give him the MVP trophy. Then Garth can trade Rolston and Mottau for Rick Nash!
"He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot" - Mike Milbury on Ziggy Palffy's agent. On Twitter: @Dan_of_Science
I'm still
all for us trading for Rick Nash
"Line brawl på Long Island!? Matt Moulson i huvudrollen!!!?! Wot!?" SwedishIslander
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
hell to the yes
But would he waive his no movement clause to come to the Isles? Hmm…?
And would Garth want to absorb 6 more years and tens of millions of dollars on his contract? (my answer to both is yes, but who knows how Garth would figure on that.
The Isles are in a much better place than Columbus
The Jackets have to rebuild all over again. They have no credible goalkeeping – Mason is essentially RDP without the beard and injury list. They’ve just sacked their coach and should probably sack their GM – though to be fair, Howson inherited almost as much of a mess from MacLean as Snow did from Milbury.
Snow could sell Nash on getting 50+ goals served to him on a silver platter by Tavares, a goalie who can stop 91.5% of opponents shots, and a rebuild that is already well-underway. He could also use such an acquisition to then lure free-agent defenders.
The reality is, the acquisition of a player like Nash is usually the last step to put you over the top, not the first. It’s not a realistic expectation – not unless the Isles are willing to part with a lot of their future chips to pull it off, and even then you gotta hope they don’t get completely hosed in the free agent market. I think it’s more realistic to start with the D, and that the Isles really should talk to Columbus about Fedor Tyutin, as was rumored (and actually reported) about five, six weeks ago.
We may be in the box, but you get the penalty.
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
Non-hockey scribblings at nightflyblog
For the record
i don’t really think Nash is an option. Just trying be funny. I think Nash will end up the Ron Francis of our time – great player toiling in obscurity for 10 or so years, then traded to a team that’s about to dominate the league. Let’s hope it’s not the Penguins again.
PS: Subban!
"He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot" - Mike Milbury on Ziggy Palffy's agent. On Twitter: @Dan_of_Science
Agreed...
and we need to fix one problem at a time… and we’re at least 2 defenders behind the curve.
If the higher profile kids are all fails (highly doubtful) over the next three years, then you can TRY to get a nash at 30 with 4 years left on a back loaded contract.
If you’re going ot give up assets now, they have to be forwards for defensemen… otherwise you’re just not going to fix the big problems.
I've had enough! It's time to call out Garth Snow!
@JPinVA
I'm sure Nash would prefer a contendah
But the thought of having Tavares setting you up after having no one all these years … man, that’s gotta make you at least fantasize.
(That is, of course, unless Portzline has already poisoned the well.)
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
London Knights
His Knight teammate Dennis Wideman is a UFA this summer… If you get one, maybe the “contendah” picture becomes a little clearer… and you get the other.
The cloudy part is TEH CORE… Is moulson part of the deal you have to make for a guy like Nash… or is it all about the CBJ future (prospects, picks and budget room).
I've had enough! It's time to call out Garth Snow!
@JPinVA
so my question is when does Moulson get added
I mean he is kinda good too! His stats shake up pretty good with most 1st line wingers in the NHL
Moulson had no votes
but this Coulson guy nearly slipped in.
"Line brawl på Long Island!? Matt Moulson i huvudrollen!!!?! Wot!?" SwedishIslander
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
I hear Mike Moulson
may be a first alternate.
"He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot" - Mike Milbury on Ziggy Palffy's agent. On Twitter: @Dan_of_Science
Moulson is a long shot
Too many brothers-in-law already in the game.
We may be in the box, but you get the penalty.
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
Non-hockey scribblings at nightflyblog
AGREED
Nice job……now, lets get a natural hat trick tonight !!!!!!!!
Deserve's His Selection.
Steps up to the plate every night & does his utmost to do what ever is needed to get the W every time he takes to the ice, baffles the opposition defense’s with his skill & give his team mates the opportunity to make things happen also. Well Done JT.
3 Teams 3 Different Sports Same Torture!!!
by Kung Fu Panda 48 on Jan 12, 2012 4:15 PM EST reply actions
JT makes me so proud
As a lifelong Islander fan Ive had my proud moments as a fan. This one is right up there with those. I wasnt alive for the cups in the 80s so ive seen way more downs than ups. But as an Islander fan this is one of my proudest moments to be a fan. This kid is so deserving of this honor and I know this is just his first step in becoming the bonafide superstar i know he will be. He has no idea how much us Islander fans appreciate him and how honored we are to be able to watch him every night. So much so that if in a situation where I was allowed to take the darn kid to dinner I would pay the bill. He deserves it. Never complains, never takes a night off. Hes an Islander through and through.
by threats13 on Jan 12, 2012 5:56 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
Hear Ye, Hear Ye
We have an Islander going to the all star game. I AM SO EXCITED. I was pumped for Grabner, and watched about a half hour of boring nonsense to watch him don an all star jersey, but this is SO MUCH BETTER!!! I can’t get over this.
We knew we would see this day.
All Who Oppose Grabner Shall Perish.
by pippup on Jan 12, 2012 6:58 PM EST reply actions 3 recs
Torts will be an A-
StarHole coach.
Fixed!
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 13, 2012 7:27 PM EST up reply actions
haha
The guy has fire in his belly…I would like our coach to take just an ounce of that fire…
Heh- I simply dont think being a blustering, cursing, bottle-throwing loudmouth makes you a good coach.
He has acted like this when his team didnt even make the playoffs, too… but everyone seems to be letting that slide because he has a great team right now.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 14, 2012 1:16 PM EST up reply actions
you cant expect a coach to win every single year...
he’s a good NHL coach even if hes a Ranger…His team is playing out of their minds…I am able to see through my hate for the rags and appreciate what he has going…
doing
and I never said that being a blustering, cursing, bottle-throwing loudmouth makes you a good coach. When did I say that? I said I wish my coach had fire too…Our coach is too passive, IMHO…
Do you have some kind of mole in the Isles room that youre not telling us about? :)
Otherwise I think you dont really know what he is like in the room.
Be fair- youre guessing, and treating your guesses as if they are facts.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 14, 2012 2:50 PM EST up reply actions
I can see how he acts from behind the bench and form my own humble opinion
I assumed you knew what IMHO (in my humble opinion) stands for…
I do not think he is the great coach you do.
And far from me not being able to “see through the hate” I am giving the credit where IMO it belongs- on the players.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 14, 2012 2:48 PM EST up reply actions
Im not gonna start promoting the Rags and their coach here...
Im an Isles fan…I hate the Rags…But to deny that an overachieving team isn’t well coached wouldn’t be fair, IMHO…Hes accomplished the ultimate goal so to have done that is proof he can lead a team all the way to the promised land…Im done with Torts…Think what u want…
Something to consider with JT-All star
this is the first time in a while that the Isles have had a player going to the ASG that looks as good as JT does right now. Streit and DP were both good when they made it, but not “game changer” good.
God willing, JT will go in there, put on a showcase clinic, and show the world what it would be like to play with him and recruit and bring back some help. There is no way that his play won’t start to be more recognized coming up. Just look at what the ASG did for Grabner’s exposure last year. People around the league were marveling at his speed for weeks.
The last few games, I’ve been watching with my family (the kids) around, and I would have to say there’s been about 10 times where I’ve been like “my God did you see that” out loud. I don’t do that very often. The kids have even done it despite knowing very little about hockey.
I have a bold prediction here (and it’s funny because I was thinking it after I heard the news, and came back and KO21 had already made a similar comment).
I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if at some point after the ASG, Streit gives up the captaincy to JT. It’s his team already.
NY Islanders, just one irrational free agent signing away from contention!
Website:Lighthouse HockeyTwitter: @KeithLHHockey
JT will go in there, put on a showcase clinic, and show the world what it would be like to play with him and recruit and bring back some help.
Hopefully he ends up on the other team from Suter and undresses him several times, forcing Suter to wave the white flag, signing with the Islanders so as to never have to line up against him again.
by afrosupreme on Jan 13, 2012 10:06 AM EST up reply actions
Hmmm
The kids have even done it despite knowing very little about hockey.
I believe what they are doing is called “modeling,” and they’re doing it so you’ll finally give them some damn Cocoa Puffs for dinner.
I agree to your larger point about exposure and the increasing “my God” moments. Not sure the C will be headed his way until a while down the road though.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
You guys have to remember
Streit is the first Swiss NHL captain in NHL history, and is literally the pride of his nation as far as sports figures go.
This is not something he is doing flippantly, this means more to him than some might realize.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 14, 2012 1:23 PM EST up reply actions
I think we know how much it means to him...
Thats why if he did relinquish the C to JT, it would an act of humility….I do believe JT is the true leader of this team…JT has really taken this team on his shoulders…
If he is already doing that then whats the big deal if its an A on his jersey or a C?
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 14, 2012 2:47 PM EST up reply actions
I mean, do you think he is holding back right now or not giving it his all?
Do you think he would give more if it was a different letter on his jersey?
I dont.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 14, 2012 2:53 PM EST up reply actions
I don't either...
Just talking about who’s the real leader on this team…I was all for Streit being the capt…But at this point JT has really taken the mantel…He doesnt need a C to be so
That's true
and not that I even think he is doing a poor job or anything, but Tavares is showing right now that he can put the team on his back and there isn’t another like that on this roster. Personally, I like my captains to be able to will out battles and wins (you know what I mean…like when people were suggesting that Konopka could be captain when he clearly didn’t directly effect game outcome).
Either way, your “national pride” thing is bigger than I had considered. It would probably be a huge reason in it not happening…although with Swiss passivism and neutrality, you never know ;)
NY Islanders, just one irrational free agent signing away from contention!
Website:Lighthouse HockeyTwitter: @KeithLHHockey
I have to admit...I feel like I might've wrong about Streit...
I was adamant about him being the only Islander who should be the Capt…But hes so passive as you said…He also seems kind of depressive in his interviews…I think a true capt should be a vocal leader as well as a leader on the ice…JT does it all, I believe…I mean, I’m not in the locker room but I hear hes starting to take a leadership roll with his voice too…I know its wont happen but JT is C material…
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1979-80
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May 24, 1980: Tonelli to Nystrom. At long last, the steady build of the New York Islanders from expansion doormat to surprise semifinalist to annual contender reaches the promised land: Buoyed by a late season trade for Butch Goring that gave the team the depth up the middle GM Bill Torrey had been seeking, the Islanders knock off the Philadelphia Flyers in six games.
The victory justified the faith in coach Al Arbour who guided them from their second season to their first Stanley Cup seven seasons later. The Islanders would not be the first expansion team to win the Stanley Cup, but they would be the only one capable of a dynasty.
1980-81
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May 21, 1981: This time it was much easier. After falling to "only" 91 points in the 1979-80 season, the Islanders returned to their division title tradition, piling up 110 points -- a whole 13 points over second-place Philadelphia.
Between the quarterfinals (where they beat the upstart Oilers in six games) and the finals, the Islanders reeled off eight consecutive wins -- with a four-game sweep of archrival Rangers in between. As they defeated the Minnesota North Stars in five games for their second Cup, their goal difference in the final was a combined +10.
1981-82
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May 16, 1982: Another year, another landslide title. The Islanders won the Patrick Division by a whopping 26 points over the second-place Rangers, and were seven points clear of their nearest competition for the President's Trophy, the still-not-quite-ripe Edmonton Oilers.
A first-round scare against the Pittsburgh Penguins turned in the Isles' favor thanks to John Tonelli's heroics, and a true dynasty was on its way: Past the Rangers in six games, then an eight-game sweep of the Quebec Nordiques and Vancouver Canucks to run away with the Stanley Cup.
1982-83
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May 17, 1983: Not so fast, whipper-snappers. The Edmonton Oilers' steadily rising challenge for league supremacy took them all the way to the finals for the first time, where the New York Islanders summarily dispatched them in a four-game sweep. For the Islanders, the Dynasty was secured. For the Oilers, it was a powerful lesson in where talent ends and the demands of playoff hockey begin.
Four years, four Cups, 16 consecutive playoff series wins (a record that would grow to 19 until the rematch with the Oilers the following year). Mike Bossy scored 60 goals yet again, and Wayne Gretzky became acquainted with Billy Smith's crease.
