1993. The last time that the New York Islanders reached the Conference Finals. Think about what a different league that was back then. For one, the league had the traditional conference (Wales and Campbell) and divisional names (Adams, Patrick, Norris, Smythe). Hartford and Quebec City had the Whalers and Nordiques, respectively, while Minnesota still had the North Stars and the original Winnipeg Jets existed. Several different teams (Ducks, Predators, Thrashers (later Jets 2.0), Blue Jackets, Wild, Golden Knights, and the upcoming Kraken) hadn't existed yet. Players like Nathan MacKinnon and Quinn Hughes weren't born yet. A Canadian team won the Stanley Cup that year. Finally, the Islanders' opponents, the Tampa Bay Lightning, were playing their very first NHL season.
The Lightning are halfway to complete redemption, and will enter this year's East Final with a long layoff. The Round Robin saw them defeat the Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals, but lose to the Philadelphia Flyers to end up as the #2 team in the East. They only needed five games each to dispatch of the Columbus Blue Jackets (the team who embarrassed them last season) and the aforementioned Bruins (who fell one win short of the Cup last year), and haven't played since August 31. This is the Lightning's fourth trip to the East Final in the last ten seasons.
The aforementioned Islanders are the only team remaining who had to play a Qualifying Round series, as they finished seventh in the Eastern Conference. After defeating the Florida Panthers in four games, they made quick work of the Capitals (six games) before winning a seven game series over the top-ranked Philadelphia Flyers. I think this team can really send shockwaves and continue their run; they definitely have the tools to take down the Bolts.
Prediction: Islanders in six
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