Islanders Blindside Capitals

In a shock to the entire league (well except for one league executive as pictured), the New York Islanders defeat the Metro Division Champions Washington Capitals in a 5-3 in to win the deciding game 7. Washington had taken a 3-2 series lead, but New York managed to win game 6 at home and game 7 in Washington, on the backs of a goaltending clinic by Frederik Anderson.

A high-level operations officer in the Islanders organization said to a reporter after the game "Yeah, nobody saw this one coming, even within the organization. Before the series we all thought John Cena was more likely to heel-turn at Wrestlemania than our team taking the series in 7"

Goaltending was the big story, as Frederik Anderson outright stole the series for the New York Islanders. The Islanders were outshot every game in the series, and outside of a 4-0 defeat in game 3, Anderson was brilliant in every single game in the series, keeping the Islanders in the game even in the losses. Nathan MacKinnon also came through in probably the biggest game of his young career, putting up 4 points in the deciding game 7. Veteran Alex Burrows who was acquired at the deadline, first struggled in the regular season after the trade, but in the 7 game series had 5 points and was a big factor in the series win.

Up next for the Islanders are division rivals Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes again will be heavily favoured coming into the series, with proven playoff performers Joe Pavelski and Duncan Keith leading the charge, but after the 7 game upset the Hurricanes will go into the series with a more cautious mindset.