When is the next time the New York Islanders will make it to the cover of Sports Illustrated? The way the NHL is covered in this country, 'never' may be the best answer.
So enjoy this trip back in time, when the venerable E.M. Swift penned the SI cover story on the Islanders' victory over the Canadiens in the 1984 conference finals.
It's all there - the greatness of Bossy, the toughness of Gillies, the outstanding play of rookie Pat Flatley, the tenacity of Billy Smith. Swift goes on to predict the Isles winning a fifth straight cup, but his piece includes many signs of Islander vulnerability: too many penalties (especially by Trottier), a more time on the PK than the PP, injuries, and lower production from players like Potvin.
Still, it's a great reminded of the glory days, and I'll say it again - DAMN, were we spoiled!
Showing posts with label Smith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Smith. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
Detroit looks dominant in game one
The Red Wings looked pretty unbeatable in the opener of the Stanley Cup finals, shutting out the Penguins, 4-0.
Over at ESPN.com, Scott Burnside asks the question: Do the Penguins need to fail in order to win later, as did the Oilers in 1983? Avid readers of this space recall that on May 20 I predicted a Red Wings victory in six games and noted that, like the Oilers, the talented Penguins are just not there yet and could follow the same path the Oilers did.
Short-time Islanders GM Neil Smith -- who was with the Isles in the Cup years -- comes to a similar conclusion in the article , and Kevin Lowe notes that it's a matter of learning how to win. Butch Goring confirms the legend of the defeated Oilers passing by the Isles locker room and seeing less celebration than relief, a sign that the Isles left everything out on the ice while the Oilers hadn't yet reached that level of comittment.
One can see the same scenario playing out this season.
Over at ESPN.com, Scott Burnside asks the question: Do the Penguins need to fail in order to win later, as did the Oilers in 1983? Avid readers of this space recall that on May 20 I predicted a Red Wings victory in six games and noted that, like the Oilers, the talented Penguins are just not there yet and could follow the same path the Oilers did.
Short-time Islanders GM Neil Smith -- who was with the Isles in the Cup years -- comes to a similar conclusion in the article , and Kevin Lowe notes that it's a matter of learning how to win. Butch Goring confirms the legend of the defeated Oilers passing by the Isles locker room and seeing less celebration than relief, a sign that the Isles left everything out on the ice while the Oilers hadn't yet reached that level of comittment.
One can see the same scenario playing out this season.
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