Why we hate the Islanders (a history lesson)
By Steve Paulus
Early history of the rivalry
When the Islanders were born in 1972-73, they were the laughingstock of the NHL. They won all of 12 games out of 78 and the Rangers swept the six game season series, outscoring them 25 goals to five.
The next season the Isles hired Al Arbour as coach and they improved to win 19 games. But it was in 1974-75 that the rivalry was really born. The Islanders improved to finish with 88 points, the same number of points as the Rangers, tied for second in the Patrick Division. Three years removed from a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals, the Rangers were looking to make quick work of the Islanders. In three seasons, the Rangers owned a 13-3-1 record against their new rivals.
The teams split the first two games with the Isles winning 3-2 in the opening game of the three game series. The Rangers dominated in Game Two, winning 8-3. Game Three at Madison Square Garden went to extra time tied 3-3 when J.P. Parise shocked the Rangers and their fans by scoring 11 seconds into overtime.
What followed was three years of Rangers futility as they missed the playoffs twice and lost in the preliminary round the third year. The team banished Ed Giacomin and traded Jean Ratelle and Rick Middleton. The GAG Line Stanley Cup finalists of 1972 became the Rangers of Phil Esposito.
Meanwhile, the Islanders became an NHL powerhouse, notching over 100 points the same three years.
A glorious win
In the 1979 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the third place Rangers won their first two series to set up a Semi-Finals series against the Islanders. The Blueshirts under coach Fred Shero had finished with 91 points, they best showing in five years. The only problem was the Islanders had finished with an NHL leading 116 points and were dominant, poised to win their first Stanley Cup.
Led by goalie John Davidson, captain Phil Esposito and rookie Don Maloney, the Rangers upset the Islanders in six games, a stunning victory. The image of Denis Potvin, crumpled to the ice as the Rangers celebrated, will live with Ranger fans forever.
But even while losing, the Isles still made the Rangers pay. In February, Potvin had dealt the Blueshirts a crippling blow when he checked star center Ulf Nilsson and broke his ankle, spawning the “Potvin Sucks” chant that lives to this day. Without Nilsson at 100% and an injured John Davidson, the Rangers were over matched in the Stanley Cup Finals and lost in five games to the Montreal Canadiens.
Unfortunately for the Rangers, that was the last time they had anything positive happen when it came to their rivalry with the Islanders for years.