Have you ever seen something that no matter how hard you tried to kill, they just won't die? They've faced endless challenges, yet they're still standing tall. Some will say that's what the Vegas Golden Knights experienced this season after a tumultuous summer. However, there's a better resilience story than that. Their name? The New York Islanders.
You see, dear reader, the Islanders have had an interesting franchise history. They were the dynastic team of the 1980s, winning four straight Stanley Cups. Then, they dealt with an endless array of adversity, starting with the infamous John Spano saga in the 1990s. The New York businessman only paid the first installment of the cable rights deal as he tried to buy the Islanders. The NHL took heat for failing to do a background check on Spano, leaving a bad impression among sports fans.
There's also the endless arena saga, where they moved from the Nassau Coliseum to Barclays Center back to Nassau Coliseum. Finally, they settled on UBS Arena in Elmont, their new home since 2021. Add in a sprinkle of relocation rumors and you have a franchise that's had, well, a bizarre history.
Still, Pavel Dorofeyev and the Golden Knights look to make it business as usual with a win on Thursday. They've won 13 of their last 15 games, steamrolling their way to the league's top (59 points). Let's get to the all-time series and see who has the upper hand. Will it be the Golden Knights or do the Islanders have one-up on Vegas?
The Vegas Golden Knights have an all-time record of 6-4-2 against the New York Islanders
The all-time matchup between the Vegas Golden Knights and New York Islanders has been... present. There hasn't been a three-game winning streak from either team in the series. Still, the Golden Knights have a 6-4-2 record against the Islanders, with a goal differential of -3 (28-31).
The biggest win for Pavel Dorofeyev's club was on January 6, 2024. The Golden Knights defeated New York at T-Mobile Arena, 5-2. Dorofeyev scored a goal while Jack Eichel scored two, propelling Vegas to victory. Keegan Kolesar added two assists, providing lower-line power for the Golden Knights.
The largest margin of defeat was three goals, which happened twice. First, it was the first game between both teams ever as the Islanders defeated Vegas on the East Coast, 6-3. The Golden Knights had a 2-1 lead heading into the second period before New York scored five unanswered goals, including two power play goals in the second period.
The other occurrence happened on December 17, 2022, when the Islanders defeated the Golden Knights, 5-2. However, this game was closer than it appeared. The Golden Knights were down in the third period, 3-2, behind two Reilly Smith goals. However, New York added two empty net goals from Brock Nelson and Zach Parise to put the game out of reach.
Thursday's game provides an opportunity for Pavel Dorofeyev and company to continue their blistering run. The Islanders have won four of their 10 games, sitting in last place in the Metropolitan Division (37 points). However, they're also five points out of a playoff spot, where a good run can propel them back into the race. Will the Golden Knights let that happen? Stay tuned.