New York Islanders Tickets Continued
Founded: 1972
Arena: Nassau
Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Uniform colors: dark blue, orange, white
Logo design: a circle with "NY", with the base of the "Y" forming a stylized hockey stick, a map of Long Island, and the word "ISLANDERS"
Alternate logo design: four diagonal hash marks, alternating between white and orange (home jersey) or blue and orange (road jersey)
Mascot: Sparky the Dragon
Conference Championships: 6 - 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984
Stanley Cup wins: 4 - 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983
Main Rivals: New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs
In time for the 2001-02 season, the Islanders made three key acquisitions. The Islanders traded for centers Alexei Yashin from the Ottawa Senators, and Michael Peca from the Buffalo Sabres. The Islanders were also able to take goaltender Chris Osgood with the first pick in the waiver draft, claiming the former Detroit Red Wings goaltender off of waivers. The Islanders opened the season on a tear, going 11-1-1-1, and easily made the 2002 playoffs before bowing out to the Toronto Maple Leafs in a very physical first round series, 4-3.
That playoff series was one of the best that the 2002 Stanley Cup Playoffs had to offer, as neither team won a road game. One of the most exciting moments of that series took place in Game 4 when Shawn Bates scored on a penalty shot with a little over a minute to go to give them the lead and ultimately the game. The turning point of the series was when Darcy Tucker blindsided Michael Peca with a questionable check in Game 5, injuring him for the rest of the series. Despite the promise shown in the Toronto series, the Islanders' playoff woes have continued; in 2003, they lost a first-round series to the Ottawa Senators and in 2004, they lost to the 2004 Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning four games to one.
Following the 2004-05 NHL lockout which eliminated the 2004-2005 NHL Season, the Islanders have made many changes to its roster to increase offense. Michael Peca was traded to the Edmonton Oilers for speedy center Mike York. The same day, winger Miroslav Satan was signed to play alongside center Alexei Yashin. The team has also remade their defensive corps, replacing departed free agents Adrian Aucoin and Roman Hamrlik and retiree Kenny Jonsson with Alexei Zhitnik, Brad Lukowich, and Brent Sopel. The team has played inconsistent hockey so far this season and is currently out of playoff position.
On January 12, 2006, Mike Milbury fired Steve Stirling and named assistant Brad Shaw as interim head coach. Milbury also announced that he would step down as general manager once his successor is found. Milbury will then take a position as Senior Vice-President of Charles Wang's sports holdings -- the Islanders, the AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers, and the New York Dragons of the Arena Football League.
