New York Islanders Eliminated from Stanley Cup Playoffs

The New York Islanders were eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs by the Washington Capitals in the seventh game of the first round. The loss is a massive disappointment for fans who were hoping that there would at least be two more games in Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. It marks the 21st time in 21 seasons that the team has failed to reach the second round. The last time the team advanced was in 1993.

The team put forth a terrible effort as scoring chances were 23-8 entering the second period, but Frans Nielsen managed to tie it in the third. Unfortunately Evgeny Kuznetsov scored the game-winning goal and the Islanders couldn't manage to get any more past Braden Holtby. They fell by the score of two to one.

Fans are stuck wondering what happened and when the wheels fell off. The team was in sole possession of first place in the Metropolitan and third in the league in score adjusted Corsi as late as March 11th. The wheels then fell off as the team backed into the playoffs with .846 points per game, good for 24th in the league and was sixteenth in score adjusted Corsi.

The team looked much improved as they added Johnny Boychuk, Nick Leddy, Nikolay Kulemin and Mikhail Grabovski.  The young core all stepped up and John Tavares had a near M.V.P. caliber season. Ultimately none of that mattered.

Thanks for everything, Islanders, and thank you for the memories, Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum  You will be missed.  Here's looking towards Brooklyn.