Isles Eliminate Penguins in Four-Game Grind-Down

Published on 16-Apr-2019 by Alan Adamsson

NHL    NHL Daily Review

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Isles Eliminate Penguins in Four-Game Grind-Down

It's been ironically under the radar, but while the Columbus Blue Jackets were stunning the hockey world by sweeping the juggernaut that is -- or was -- Tampa Bay, another first-round sweep wrapped up, too.

The outta nowhere New York Islanders prematurely ended the season of those perpetual Stanley Cup contenders, the Pittsburgh Penguins with a 3-1 Game 4 victory in the Igloo that was never really that close.

 

 

Talk about an ignominious early end this spring for a team that'd claimed the Stanley Cup in 2016 and 2017.

No one figured the Isles would even get a sniff at the playoffs this season, apparently underestimating their two key off-season pickups:

Lamoriello kept the New Jersey Devils in contention season after season on a miserly budget, and Trotz marshalled the Nashville Predators from expansion punching bags to Cup contenders.

Those were traits that suited the Isles well.

 

Specifically, both deployed a killer trapping system to stifle more talented teams.

It may not be pretty hockey, but as downtrodden as the Islanders have been in recent times, their fan base was ready for anything that put W's in the standings.

Thus, even after losing John Tavares to the Maple Leafs, the club was confident they'd be in the hunt for a playoff spot right now.

 

Fittingly, dudes moved their spring schedule to their old barn, the Nassau Coliseum, site of their dynasty days of the early 1980s when they won four Cups in a row.

 

Remember, this sweep of the Penguins was not an upset.

The Isles actually finished higher in the Metropolitan Division, earning home ice in the first round:

Not that home ice makes much of a difference in a sweep.

Next up, another giant-killing task, as the Boston Bruins will do their best to out-power Isles' trap. That doesn't sound attractive, but this is the playoffs.

Somehow, it'll be entertaining.