1981 – 82 New York Islanders season The 1981 - 82 New York Islanders season was the tenth in the franchise ' s history . It involved winning the Stanley Cup . Record Winning Streak . From January 21 to February 20 the Islanders set a National Hockey League record by winning 15 consecutive games . Since regular season overtime did not yet exist , all of these games had to be ( and were ) won in regulation time . The record was surpassed in 1993 by the Pittsburgh Penguins , who won 17 consecutive games , two of which were in overtime . Playoffs . Patrick Division Semi - Finals . Islanders vs . Pittsburgh Penguins . The Islanders won the first two games of the best - of - 5 series , outscoring Pittsburgh 15 - 3 . The Penguins then came back to even the series with two victories of their own . In Game 5 , the Islanders came from behind to win in overtime . The tying and winning goals were both scored by John Tonelli . " Islanders win series , 3 games to 2 " Patrick Division Finals . Islanders vs . New York Rangers . After losing the opener , the Islanders came back to win the next three games and , eventually , the series in six . The key goals were Bryan Trottier ' s overtime winner of Game 3 and Dave Langevin ' s in the third period of Game 6 that proved to be the series clincher . " Islanders win series , 4 games to 2 " Wales Conference Finals . Islanders vs . Quebec Nordiques . The Islanders defeated the Nords decisively in the first two games played at the Nassau Coliseum . In Quebec , they won Game 3 in overtime on a goal scored by Wayne Merrick and finished the sweep three days later to advance to the Finals . " Islanders win series , 4 games to 0 " Stanley Cup Finals . New York Islanders vs . Vancouver Canucks . The Canucks had their best chance to win a game in the first one , as a Jim Nill short - handed marker gave them a 5 – 4 lead with only seven minutes to play in regulation time . However , the Islanders tied it when Mike Bossy banged home a loose puck after goaltender Richard Brodeur had collided with his own defenceman , Harold Snepsts , while trying to smother it . In the dying seconds of the first overtime period , Snepsts attempted to clear the puck up the middle , but it was intercepted by Bossy , who completed his hat trick with two seconds left on the clock to win the game for the Islanders . In game two , the Canucks led 4 – 3 after two periods , but the Isles came back to win again . The series then shifted to Vancouver , where the Canucks were boosted by a boisterous , towel - waving Vancouver crowd and had a great first period , but failed to score on Billy Smith , who was brilliant . The Islanders went on to win 3 – 0 , and then completed the sweep with a 3 – 1 victory on May 16 to win their third straight Cup . Mike Bossy scored 7 goals in the four games and won the Conn Smythe Trophy . " Islanders win series , 4 games to 0 " 1982 New York Islanders Stanley Cup Champions . Gord Lane , Jean Potvin , Denis Potvin , Stefan Persson , Tomas Jonsson , Mike McEwen , Ken Morrow , Dave Langevin , Brent Sutter , Duane Sutter , Clark Gillies , Hector Marini , Wayne Merrick , Bob Bourne , Bryan Trottier , Mike Bossy , Bob Nystrom , John Tonelli , Anders Kallur , Butch Goring , Billy Carroll , Roland Melanson , Billy Smith , Al Arbour ( coach ) , Bill Torrey ( general manager ) , Ron Waske , Jim Pickard ( trainers ) References . < / div >