New York Islanders are a professional hockey team that plays in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Islanders compete in the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home games at UBS Arena on Long Island.
The Islanders began playing in the NHL in 1972. The first season, the team won only 12 games and lost 60. In their third season, however, the Islanders made the playoff semifinals. The Islanders dominated the NHL during the early 1980’s, winning four consecutive Stanley Cups from 1980 to 1983. They lost the Stanley Cup final in 1984. The team was led by Al Arbour, who coached the team from 1973 through 1986 and again from 1988 to 1994. The stars of the championship teams included defenseman Denis Potvin, goalie Billy Smith, centers Butch Goring and Bryan Trottier, and right winger Mike Bossy.
By the late 1980’s, most of the team’s stars had left. The Islanders have not advanced to the Stanley Cup finals since 1984. Recent stars have included left winger Anders Lee and center John Tavares.
