It’ll be a matchup of two teams hoping to overcome more than four decades of combined postseason futility when the Florida Panthers faceoff against the New York Islanders in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Panthers haven’t won a playoff series since their historic run to the Stanley Cup Final in 1996, while the Islanders drought dates back to 1993 – a year before Florida’s inaugural NHL season.
“It’s going to be a battle in the first series,” head coach Gerard Gallant said. “Sure we finished in first in our division and we’re going to be the home team, but no matter who you play now in the playoffs it’s going to be a battle and you’ve got to play your best hockey to win.