Stories
The moments, players, and legends that defined the greatest dynasty in American hockey history.
The Night Bob Nystrom Made History
May 24, 1980. The Nassau Coliseum was a pressure cooker. The Islanders had never won anything — and now they were in overtime of Game 6 of…
Read More →Fort Neverlose: How Nassau Coliseum Got Its Name
The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum opened in 1972. By 1980, it had become one of the most feared arenas in professional hockey — a fort…
Read More →The Line: Bossy, Trottier, and Gillies
They called it the Long Island Lightning Line. Mike Bossy, Bryan Trottier, and Clark Gillies formed one of the most productive and feared fo…
Read More →19 Straight: The Record That May Never Fall
From 1980 to 1984, the New York Islanders won 19 consecutive playoff series. No team in professional sports history has matched this feat.…
Read More →Battlin' Billy: The Goalie Who Held Off Gretzky
The 1983 Stanley Cup Final. Billy Smith vs. Wayne Gretzky. It wasn't even close. The Islanders goalie shut down the Great One and earned the…
Read More →The Trade That Built a Dynasty: Getting Butch Goring
March 10, 1980. With the trade deadline looming, GM Bill Torrey made a move that many consider the single most important transaction in Isla…
Read More →The Miracle Connection: Ken Morrow's Unique Place in History
In 1980, Ken Morrow accomplished something no American hockey player had ever done: Olympic gold in February, Stanley Cup championship in Ma…
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