NHL Team Guide
New York Islanders: History, Stanley Cups & Facts
The New York Islanders joined the NHL as an expansion team in 1972. They won four straight Stanley Cups from 1980 to 1983.
Listen to Islanders Daily, the daily New York Islanders podcast→New York Islanders right now
- Record
- –
- Standing
- –
- Next game
- –
- Head coach
- –
Updated live from ESPN.
Quick facts
| Founded | 1972, NHL expansion team |
|---|---|
| Arena | UBS Arena, Elmont, N.Y. (opened 2021) |
| Stanley Cups | 4 (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983) |
| Stanley Cup Final appearances | 5 (1980–1984), as of 2026 |
| Former arenas | Nassau Coliseum (1972–2015, 2018–2021), Barclays Center (2015–2020, shared with Nassau Coliseum from 2018) |
Stanley Cup history
The Islanders won four consecutive Stanley Cups from 1980 to 1983. Between 1980 and 1984 they won 19 straight playoff series, a record for North American pro sports.
- 1980 Stanley Cup: beat the Philadelphia Flyers 4–2
- 1981 Stanley Cup: beat the Minnesota North Stars 4–1
- 1982 Stanley Cup: beat the Vancouver Canucks 4–0
- 1983 Stanley Cup: beat the Edmonton Oilers 4–0
- 1984 Stanley Cup Final: lost to the Edmonton Oilers 4–1
Franchise history
- 1972: Began play as an NHL expansion team at Nassau Coliseum.
- 1973: Hired head coach Al Arbour.
- 1980: Won the first Stanley Cup in franchise history, on Bob Nystrom's overtime goal in Game 6 against Philadelphia.
- 1981: Mike Bossy scored 50 goals in 50 games.
- 1983: Won a fourth straight Stanley Cup.
- 2015: Moved to Barclays Center in Brooklyn; split home games with Nassau Coliseum from 2018 to 2020.
- 2021: Opened UBS Arena at Belmont Park in Elmont.
Franchise record holders
| Goals | Mike Bossy, 573 |
|---|---|
| Points | Bryan Trottier, 1,353 |
| Goalie wins | Billy Smith, 304 |
Retired numbers
- 5Denis Potvin
- 9Clark Gillies
- 19Bryan Trottier
- 22Mike Bossy
- 23Bob Nystrom
- 27John Tonelli
- 31Billy Smith
- 91Butch Goring
- 99Wayne Gretzky (retired across the NHL)
Hockey Hall of Famers
Mike Bossy, Bryan Trottier, Denis Potvin, Billy Smith, Clark Gillies, Pat LaFontaine, Al Arbour (coach), Bill Torrey (general manager).
Biggest rivalries
- New York Rangers: the Battle of New York between the two metro-area NHL clubs.
- Philadelphia Flyers: opponent in the 1980 Stanley Cup Final, the Islanders' first title.
- Tampa Bay Lightning: beat the Islanders in four playoff series: 2004, 2016, 2020 and 2021.
Follow the New York Islanders every day
Islanders Daily is Fan Arch’s daily New York Islanders podcast, with new episodes every day on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Go to Islanders Daily → All NHL Podcasts →New York Islanders FAQ
How many Stanley Cups have the Islanders won?
Four, in 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983.
What is the Islanders' 19 straight series wins?
From 1980 to 1984 the Islanders won 19 playoff series in a row, a record for North American pro sports. The run ended when Edmonton beat them in the 1984 Final.
Where do the Islanders play?
At UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y., next to Belmont Park. It opened in November 2021.
Who built the Islanders dynasty?
General manager Bill Torrey and head coach Al Arbour. Both are in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Why is 1,500 hanging in the rafters?
It honors Al Arbour's 1,500 games coached for the Islanders, reached on November 3, 2007.
Sources
Facts checked September 23, 2026. Live figures above come from ESPN.