I grew up a kid from the eighties, so all my memories are memories of the Islanders as a force. The Trottier, Bossy, Potvin, and Billy Smith Islanders... I am not going to say these Islanders are the beginnings of a dynasty, but they are the first Islanders in 20+ years that feel like they are heading in the right direction...

I have long been a fan of keeping the Islanders on the Island and I have seen first hand here on the site the passion these fans have for their Islanders. People from other parts of North America may think of the Islanders and Rangers as from the same New York. The fact is, they couldn't be more different fan bases and different areas. Long Island and Manhatten may be next to each other on the map, but they are different worlds entirely...

The NHL is a better league when the Islanders are a good team, and they are definitely on their way.

The always classy Brooks Orpik said it best last night after his unlikely goal eliminated an Islanders team who really gave Pittsburgh all they could handle.

"That's a good team over there," Orpik said, " They remind me of our team the first year we went to the playoffs and lost to Ottawa."

Sidney Crosby added, "They are going to be in the playoffs for many more years to come."

The Islanders cold have won this series and last night showed true character in outplaying the Penguins in game 6. Had Nabokov been better in this series the Islanders may have been playing to clinch last night.

The Islanders may have lost the series, but in doing so they won back much more. Respect.

coming up tonight...I will be live blogging during the Leafs/Bruins and Ducks/Wings games.

Have a great Mother's Day.

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