The 1981–82 New York Islanders season was the
10th season in the franchise's history. It involved winning the
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup (french: La Coupe Stanley) is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, an ...
.
Offseason
NHL Draft
Regular season
Season standings
Schedule and results
Pre-season
Regular season
Player statistics
Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts;
Record Winning Streak
From January 21 to February 20 the Islanders set a
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...
record by winning 15 consecutive games. Since regular season overtime did not yet exist, all of these games had to be (and were) won in regulation time. During the streak, the Islanders outscored the opposition 97-35 for a +62 goal differential over the 15 games. The record was surpassed in
1993 by the
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference, and have playe ...
, who won 17 consecutive games, two of which were in overtime.
Playoffs
Patrick Division Semi-Finals
Islanders vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
The Islanders won the first two games of the best-of-5 series, outscoring Pittsburgh 15-3. The Penguins then came back to even the series with two victories of their own. In Game 5, the Islanders came from behind to win in overtime. The tying and winning goals were both scored by
John Tonelli
John Alexander Tonelli (born March 23, 1957) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward from Milton, Ontario. He was a four-time Stanley Cup champion with the New York Islanders, and also played with the Calgary Flames, Los Angele ...
.
* April 7 Islanders 8, Penguins 1
* April 8 Islanders 7, Penguins 2
* April 10 Penguins 2, Islanders 1(OT)
* April 11 Penguins 5, Islanders 2
* April 13 Islanders 4, Penguins 3(OT)
''Islanders win series, 3 games to 2''
Patrick Division Finals
Islanders vs. New York Rangers
After losing the opener, their first loss at home since December 29th, the Islanders came back to win the next three games and, eventually, the series in six. The key goals were
Bryan Trottier
Bryan John Trottier (born July 17, 1956) is a Canadian-American former professional ice hockey centre who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins. He won four Stanley Cups with the ...
's overtime winner of Game 3 and
Dave Langevin
David Richard Langevin (born May 15, 1954) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who played 216 games for the Edmonton Oilers in the World Hockey Association (WHA) as well as 513 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the ...
's in the third period of Game 6 that proved to be the series clincher.
* April 15 Rangers 5, Islanders 4
* April 16 Islanders 7, Rangers 2
* April 18 Islanders 4, Rangers 3(OT)
* April 19 Islanders 5, Rangers 3
* April 21 Rangers 4, Islanders 2
* April 23 Islanders 5, Rangers 3
''Islanders win series, 4 games to 2''
Wales Conference Finals
Islanders vs. Quebec Nordiques
The Islanders defeated the Nords decisively in the first two games played at the
Nassau Coliseum
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum (or simply the Nassau Coliseum) is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Uniondale, New York, east of New York City. The Long Island venue is approximately east of the eastern limits of the New York City Borough of ...
. In Quebec, they won Game 3 in overtime on a goal scored by
Wayne Merrick
Leonard Wayne Merrick (born April 23, 1952) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played 774 career National Hockey League games for the St. Louis Blues, California Seals, Cleveland Barons and New York Islanders.
Playing career ...
and finished the sweep three days later to advance to the Finals.
* April 27 Islanders 4, Nordiques 1
* April 29 Islanders 5, Nordiques 2
* May 1 Islanders 5, Nordiques 4(OT)
* May 4 Islanders 4, Nordiques 2
''Islanders win series, 4 games to 0''
Stanley Cup Finals
New York Islanders vs. Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks had their best chance to win a game in the first one, as a
Jim Nill
James Edward Nill (born April 11, 1958) is a Canadian former ice hockey player and the current general manager of the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nill played in the NHL throughout the 1980s with the St. Louis Blues, Vancouver ...
short-handed marker gave them a 5–4 lead with only seven minutes to play in regulation time. However, the Islanders tied it when Mike Bossy banged home a loose puck after goaltender
Richard Brodeur
Richard "King Richard", "Kermit" Brodeur (born September 15, 1952), is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. Brodeur was born in Longueuil, Quebec and grew up in Montreal, Quebec.
Playing career
Brodeur was selected in the 1972 ...
had collided with his own defenceman,
Harold Snepsts
Harold John Snepsts (born October 24, 1954) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who spent 17 seasons in the National Hockey League between 1975 and 1991. He is one of the most popular players in the history of the Vancouver Canuc ...
, while trying to smother it. In the dying seconds of the first overtime period, Snepsts attempted to clear the puck up the middle, but it was intercepted by Bossy, who completed his hat trick with two seconds left on the clock to win the game for the Islanders. In game two, the Canucks led 4–3 after two periods, but the Isles came back to win again.
The series then shifted to Vancouver, where the Canucks were boosted by a boisterous, towel-waving Vancouver crowd and had a great first period, but failed to score on
Billy Smith, who was brilliant. The Islanders went on to win 3–0, and then completed the sweep with a 3–1 victory on May 16 to win their third straight Cup.
Mike Bossy scored 7 goals in the four games and won the
Conn Smythe Trophy
The Conn Smythe Trophy (french: Trophée Conn Smythe) is awarded annually to the most valuable player (MVP) of his team during the National Hockey League's (NHL) Stanley Cup playoffs. It is named after Conn Smythe, the longtime owner, general man ...
.
''Islanders win series, 4 games to 0''
Awards and records
* Mike Bossy,
Conn Smythe Trophy
The Conn Smythe Trophy (french: Trophée Conn Smythe) is awarded annually to the most valuable player (MVP) of his team during the National Hockey League's (NHL) Stanley Cup playoffs. It is named after Conn Smythe, the longtime owner, general man ...
* Mike Bossy, Runner-Up,
Lady Byng Trophy
The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, formerly known as the Lady Byng Trophy, is presented each year to the National Hockey League "player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of ...
[National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p. 221, Dan Diamond & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, ]
References
Islanders on Hockey Database
New York Islanders seasons
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference ( ...
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference ( ...
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference ( ...
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference ( ...
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference ( ...
Eastern Conference (NHL) championship seasons
Patrick Division champion seasons
Stanley Cup championship seasons