It Was Sixteen Years Ago Today...

With three of the four second-round series in this year's playoffs going seven games (and two Game 7s being played tonight), I thought this would be a good time to revisit the Islanders' last appearance in the second round. Sixteen years ago on this day, David Volek's overtime goal led the Islanders to victory over the seemingly unbeatable Penguins. To this day - and maybe this is more depressing than anything else - this remains the unquestioned highlight of my life as a sports fan.

Last year, I commemorated the fifteenth anniversary of this event by writing this piece. Of all the blogs I've done here at The Rivalry, this one is my favorite. And since the Islanders didn't even come close to winning a playoff series this year, I figured I'd bring it up again. If we're still linking to this in five years because the Islanders still haven't won a playoff series, shoot me.

Reading this piece, it's funny how it not only stood up pretty well over a year, but became even more truthful - no matter which teams you like besides the Islanders. The Mets pulled off yet another September collapse. The Jets - after that insane Thursday night win over the Patriots, which is the only thing that even compares to Game 7 in '93 - choked down the stretch to miss the playoffs. Newcastle United, my favorite soccer team, has spent much of this year at the bottom of the Premier League table. The Giants fell apart after Plaxico Burress shot himself. The Knicks have been reduced to praying LeBron James will come to New York in July 2010. The Yankees missed the playoffs for the first time in thirteen years. Hell, even the Rangers got in on the act, blowing a 3-1 lead in the first round of the playoffs. And we don't need to get into the Devils' incomprehensible breakdown with two minutes left against Carolina two weeks ago. No matter how you slice it, nothing has happened in the past twelve months to make us forget the 1993 playoff run.

And that's just it. When you're an Islanders fan, your memories are pretty much all you have. People in my age group, those of us in our mid-20s, have the Easter Epic, the '93 playoffs, and the 2001-02 season. That's it. How sad is that? With the Islanders' future as unclear as it is, those of us who remember 1993 should cherish every memory. Volek's goal came at a time when Pat Riley's Knicks were in the playoffs as the top seed in the East. And yet, the Islanders still owned Long Island. Maybe we'll be fortunate enough to create some more of these memorable playoff moments on Long Island.

My (Hypothetical) Islanders DVD Boxed Set

For those of you who haven't heard, the Islanders have released a DVD called "Dinner And A Dynasty". Basically, it's a roundtable discussion of Islanders legends filmed during the Core Of The Four weekend. I'd imagine viewers will be treated to 90 minutes of ex-Isles stuffing their faces and telling stories we've already heard a million times. Needless to say, this isn't exactly a must-have in my collection - mainly because I was eighteen months old when the Islanders won their fourth Cup.

However, this does provide as a nice segue to a piece I've wanted to write for some time. Imagine that I, a die-hard Islanders fan, got the chance to create the definitive DVD boxed set that would encompass the history of the Islanders. And I think I'm a pretty good guy to do it. Unlike the Islanders organization, I am aware that there are things that have happened to this team since 1984. I respect the Dynasty, but I know that it's not the be-all and end-all of the franchise. I have a deep knowledge of the many crappy teams that followed the Dynasty, and those teams will be represented in this DVD set.

We'll do ten games, with any game going more than two overtimes counting as two games (i.e. the Easter Epic). Some of the choices will surprise you because they're not "conventional" - as in, there's no need to include all four Cup clinchers when two of them were road blowouts. That said, this is as good a trip down Islanders Memory Lane as one can get. And away we go!

4.11.75: Islanders 4, Rangers 3. 1975 Preliminary Round, Game 3. The famous J.P. Parise overtime winner that put the Islanders on the map.

5.24.80: Islanders 5, Flyers 4. 1980 Stanley Cup Finals, Game 6. The Islanders' first Cup is won by Bobby Nystrom's overtime goal.

1.24.81: Islanders 7, Nordiques 4. 1981 Regular Season. Mike Bossy's 50th goal in 50 games.

2.20.82: Islanders 3, Rockies 2. 1982 Regular Season. Isles' record-setting 15th straight win.

4.13.82: Islanders 4, Penguins 3. 1982 Patrick Division Semi-Finals, Game 5. John Tonelli's overtime winner keeps the Dynasty alive.

5.16.83: Islanders 4, Oilers 2. 1983 Stanley Cup Finals, Game 4. The underdog Islanders win their fourth straight Stanley Cup before passing the torch to the Oilers in 1984.

4.18.87: Islanders 3, Capitals 2. 1987 Patrick Division Semi-Finals, Game 7. The Easter Epic.

5.14.93: Islanders 4, Penguins 3. 1993 Patrick Division Finals, Game 7. David Volek provides the Islanders' greatest moment since the Dynasty.

4.24.02: Islanders 4, Maple Leafs 3. 2002 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, Game 4. The Isles' most recent playoff classic is capped by a Shawn Bates penalty shot.

There you have it. The entire history of the Islanders on ten DVDs - well worth the hypothetical $69.99 or so you'd spend on this hypothetical DVD set. I'd certainly buy it.

Zach, how about a Rangers' DVD set? Oh, and you're only allowed two games from 1994. I have a pretty good idea of what those two games will be.

A Letter To Bryan, From Bryan

When the Islanders defeated the Penguins on May 14, 1993, I was extra careful to remember the date. It was the cap on the as-yet-unnamed "Miracle of '93"; David Volek's overtime goal completed the Islanders' unfathomable upset of the defending champions. Little did I know that this would be the pinnacle of my sports-watching life to this point.

Channeling my inner Bill Simmons, I'd like to pass along a few words of wisdom to the Bryan of fifteen years ago. I'd like to tell him to enjoy the game - and to be careful about what the future has in store.

Bryan,

I hope this letter found you safe and sound. You should be on the bus right now, heading home from your Academic Enrichment Program trip to Mt. Tone. Knowing you, there's only one thing on your mind right now - getting home to see Game 7 of Islanders-Penguins. Don't worry about running late; you'll get home just in time. I'd strongly advise you not to miss a second of this game for one very important reason - it will be the greatest sports moment of your life.

After this game is over, a lot is going to change for you. Yeah, you'll still get made fun of at school, but you'll turn out okay. As for hockey? Well, that's a different story.

Remember how the cafeteria erupted yesterday morning when Mr. Aronowitz announced that the Islanders won Game 6 by a score of 7-5? Well, that's not going to be happening in the future. Not because of anything the Islanders will or won't do - we'll get to them later - but because hockey will be an afterthought pretty soon. Slowly but surely, goalies will morph into beasts twice their original sizes. This development, in conjunction with something you'll soon know as the "neutral zone trap", will essentially kill the game. In a year and a half, the league is going to cancel the first half of the season; ten years from then, a whole entire season will be wiped out. All of these things you don't care about - free agency, TV ratings, salary caps - are going to ruin the game you love and take it away from you. Worse, you'll be the only one you know who misses hockey.

Sorry to say it, but even though it'll upset you, it won't affect you as much as you might think. You know how you always say you'd hold out if the Rangers drafted you? Well, that won't be a problem, and it's not because the Islanders signed you on your 18th birthday. You could hardly crack the roster of your high school roller hockey team, let alone an NHL franchise. In fact, the closest you ever came to the Stanley Cup was when you won the Cup in NHL Hockey for Sega Genesis. You'll be happy to know that they're still making NHL Hockey games today, and that they're better than ever. These are the games that keep you young, because time isn't doing that great a job.

(Side note: You think Mortal Kombat is awesome? Wait for the sequel.)

Anyway, let's get back to the task at hand - Game 7. Excited, eh? Nervous? You should be. This is the first time you've seen the Islanders in a Game 7. Well, without giving too much away, you're not going to be disappointed.

The real reason I'm writing is that you're going to see everything change after this game is over. Think of it as puberty for a sports fan. After this, nothing is going to come easy. Nothing will shock you. You'll be completely numb to the pain sports inflict on people, and you'll be a much worse person for it. Sorry to say it, but it's true.

- You know Kevin Stevens on the Penguins? Well, in the first period of tomorrow's game, he's going to suffer an awful injury. He will never be the same player, will develop a serious crack habit, and will leave the game with a whimper instead of being inducted into the Hockey Hall Of Fame. Speaking of the Hall, this Penguins team has four guys that will make the Hall Of Fame (Mario Lemieux, Ron Francis, Joe Mullen, Larry Murphy) and one that will when he retires (Jaromir Jagr).

- You like Glenn Healy and Mark Fitzpatrick? I know you do. They'll both be gone in months to make room for Ron "Five-Hole" Hextall. You might not know what "Five-Hole" means... you will soon. This will eventually turn into a revolving door of goaltenders for the next decade until 2006, at which time the new Islanders owner will give a guy named Rick DiPietro a 15-year deal. Crazy, huh?

- How about Ray Ferraro, Patrick Flatley, Vladimir Malakhov, Darius Kasparaitis, and Rich Pilon? You love them all now... but they'll all play for the Rangers at some point in their careers. Even your favorite non-Islanders - Wayne Gretzky, Luc Robitaille, and Pat LaFontaine - will all play for the Rangers. Those same Rangers, by the way, will destroy the Islanders in next year's playoffs and win their first Stanley Cup in 54 years. See, I told you the future wouldn't be pretty.

- You know that Pierre Turgeon jersey you have in your closet? Make sure you wear it as often as you can. In two years, Turgeon will be traded for a player whose legacy in an Islanders uniform will be that he was paid to not play for the Isles. Speaking of Islanders uniforms, your team is going to unveil a horrid new design with the Gorton's Fisherman as the centerpiece. Don't buy one - they won't be around for very long.

- You probably don't know this yet, but the Islanders have drafted pretty well over the past few years. Many people are going to predict another dynasty for your beloved Islanders. Well, it's not going to happen. Not only are the Islanders going to miss the playoffs for eight straight years, a guy named Mike Milbury is going to take over the team and trade all of these prospects away for a bucket of hockey pucks. Also, a Mr. John Spano will somehow manage to buy the club without even having any money. He's just one person who will buy the team and sink it further into the ground. When someone named Charles Wang comes along, you'll know you're in the clear.

It's not just the Islanders that are going to break your heart. It's everyone else, too. Below are some spoilers - feel free to avoid them, but remember that you'll eventually be hurt by all of your favorite teams.

- While the Rangers are in the process of winning the Cup next year, the Knicks are going to make a run at the NBA title after Michael Jordan retires. You read that right. On the night of Game 5, you'll be watching the game at John's house, only to find that the camera is focused on O.J. Simpson driving after killing his wife. You read that right, too. Anyway, the Knicks will get to Game 7, only John Starks will blow the whole thing by shooting 2-for-18 on the night.

- You probably know by now that the Jets only serve to let you down. Well, you're right. Next year, you're going to be thinking big things, only to see everything fall apart after a play that will become known as "The Fake Spike". You'll also see them fumble away a chance to play in the Super Bowl and miss two would-be game-winning field goals in the playoffs. Oh, and here's one you're not going to believe - Browning Nagle isn't the quarterback of the future.

- The Mets gave you the only championship you actually remember, but that's not going to stop them from breaking your heart in the future. Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry, your idols growing up, are going to join the Yankees and win a World Series. By the time you get to my age, you'll have seen the Yankees play in six World Series. One of them will be against the Mets. The Mets will actually get into the playoffs a number of times, thanks to something known as the "Wild Card". You'll know all about that soon enough. Here are some things you might not want to know about - you'll lose in the playoffs in each of those years in soul-crushing fashion. I'm not even going to bring up that the Mets will author the biggest collapse in baseball history under your watch.

So, having said all that, watch tonight's game intently. Enjoy it for what it is. Notice the amount of space on the ice, knowing you'll never see it again. Notice the spacious nets and realize that they will soon be clogged by oversized players and oversized pads. Enjoy the SportsChannel telecast and try to avoid the fact that fifteen years from now, television ratings will run the sporting world.

When the game is over, if you feel like yelling and screaming, do it. When Mom and Dad yell at you, don't listen. Remember, tonight is going to be special. Again, not trying to give anything away... but fifteen years later, you still have your 1993 Patrick Division Champions t-shirt.

Sincerely,
Bryan

How The Other Half Lives

It's very rare that you can clearly see your lot in life. Tonight, I was fortunate enough to see mine.

I don't just back underdogs. I'm a glutton for punishment.

The Jets are more than a cursed team that will never win a Super Bowl. They're a franchise that seems to truly relish breaking the hearts of Jets fans every year. The Mets just completed a historic collapse and will surely find a new way to disappoint us this coming season. The Knicks are an embarrassment to everybody who grew up idolizing John Starks, Charles Oakley, and the rest of the Riley-era Knicks. Even my newest love, Newcastle United of the English Premier League, is fighting just to avoid being relegated to the second-tier league of English football.

And the Islanders? Well, odds are good I don't need to tell you of their plight.

Simply put, I have no idea why someone would become an Islander fan unless they were born into it. I've said the same thing about the Rangers, but at least they've been successful since the lockout. The Islanders have exactly four claims to fame since the dynasty years...
- The Easter Epic
- The Miracle Of '93
- Trading away an entire team worth of blue-chip prospects for pennies on the dollar
- Playing the Maple Leafs in one of the most brutal series of the modern era

Of course, the Isles lost the series immediately following both the Easter Epic and the Penguins series in '93, they never would have developed those prospects as effectively on the Island, and they didn't get it done against Toronto. The shame of it is, the Islanders easily could have reached the Finals in either '93 or '02 with a little luck (there was no way they were beating the Flyers in '87), and God knows how well they could have done with even half the guys they traded away.

In a nutshell, that's the past quarter-century of Islanders hockey - what might have been.

Ironically enough, it was those Maple Leafs that opened my eyes tonight. The same team that had to injure two of the Isles' best players to beat them in 2002 embarrassed the Islanders tonight. Obviously, both teams have taken major turns for the worse since then, with the Isles fighting scoring woes for much of the season and the Leafs languishing in a lottery spot until very recently. Still, in a game where the Coliseum faithful got their first glimpse at the future, the Islanders should have had this one.

It's never a good thing when your only goal tops the list for flukiest goals in a given season, but that's the Islanders for you. Toronto woke up after that, finally turned it on in the third period, and kept the Islanders' scoring chances to mostly weak attempts from bad angles. It happens, I guess. It's just hard to take when you're sitting in a half-empty Coliseum, with a team consisting largely of unrecognizable faces playing before you, and your team can't buy a break. And as much as I tried to cheer myself up by thinking about our improved draft position, or contemplating the popular Leafs fan prediction of making a playoff run that's destined to fall just short and ruin their shot at a premium draft pick, it didn't work. Especially when contrasted with the scenario that occurred across town.

My friends Tom and Kristine attended tonight's Rangers-Penguins game at the Garden. They got to sit in a sold-out building and watch the Rangers make short work of a legitimate Cup contender. They got to see Sean Avery score two goals, Henrik Lundqvist shut the door, and the Rangers move one step closer to potentially gaining home-ice advantage in the first round. Not bad, eh? Meanwhile, all Islanders fans got was another disappointing finish to what has quickly become a forgettable season.

Believe me when I say that I'm not giving up on my team. I can't stress this enough. We've been through far, far worse before. This isn't the Fishstick era, or the John Spano era, or even the Steve Stirling era. I just wish that, for once, I could be on the other side of this rivalry. I wish I could be the one supporting the winning team. I wish I could dream of Stanley Cups and marquee players. I wish I had the confidence that my team could make a playoff run and maybe, just maybe, win this thing. Is that too much to ask?

Apparently so.

Again, I'm not giving up. I just wish my faith wasn't tested so often.