Original sentence: After the '88 playoffs, Denis Potvin retired holding records for most career goals (310), assists (742) and points (1052) by a defenseman (he has since been passed in these categories by Ray Bourque and Paul Coffey).The Isles were now facing stiff competition from their division rivals, the Philadelphia Flyers and Washington Capitals.These were sandwiched around a 1986 first-round sweep by the Capitals--the Islanders' first exit without winning a playoff round since 1978.They were eliminated in the Patrick Division finals by the Flyers in 1985 and 1987 (the Flyers went on to the Stanley Cup finals both years)
Edited sentence: After the '88 playoffs, Denis Potvin retired holding records for most career goals (310), assists (742) and points (1052) by a defenseman.The Isles were now facing stiff competition from their division rivals, the Philadelphia Flyers and Washington Capitals; they suffered 1985 and 1987 second round playoff elimination at the hands of the eventual finalist Flyers, while the 1986 sweep by the Capitals marked the Isles' first exit without winning a playoff round since 1978