Round 2 NHL Playoffs Rooting Guide for New York Islanders Fans

Are you a New York Islanders fan looking to stay invested in hockey after the team’s disappointing first-round exit?

Is the New York Knicks run not enough to keep your quench for playoff sports quenched?

Are you a Brooklyn Nets fan? (My condolences.)

As the second round of the NHL Playoffs begin, three former Islanders players are looking to win the Stanley Cup for the first time in their careers.

If you’re into supporting old friends, there are a variety of option to choose from.

Here are their cases:

Kyle Okposo

Kyle Okposo is in the playoffs for the first time since he left the Islanders for the Buffalo Sabres eight years ago.

And he is there with the team he and the Isles beat in those 2016 playoffs — the Florida Panthers.

It’s been a long time coming for Okposo, and as many remember, he’s had some good memories on Long Island.

Remember the Game 2 fight in 2013, which he followed up with a game-winning goal which gave the Islanders life against the Pittsburgh Penguins?

How about the first goal at the Nassau Coliseum in the playoffs during what was expected to be its final season back in 2015?

Okposo has had a lot of special moments on the Island, totaling 139 goals and 369 points in 529 regular season games.

And the 522 regular season games in between his last playoff appearance and his 2024 appearance with the Panthers makes for an even more compelling case.

Eight years is a long time to go without playoff hockey, and he is gunning for it.

Parker Wotherspoon

Parker Wotherspoon spent five full seasons in the Islanders’ AHL system before making his NHL debut last season and he has finally gotten his opportunity to bloom with the Boston Bruins.

After starting the year with AHL Providence, Wotherspoon played 41 games down he stretch, notched eight assists and secured his place on Boston’s playoff roster.

He has played in six of the Bruins eight playoff games so far and has picked up an assist in the process.

After years of hard work in the minors, it has seemed to finally pay off for Wotherspoon.

Zach Parise

In what is likely his final season in the NHL, Zach Parise is searching for his first Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche.

Was his exit from New York sour?

Sure.

At one point, he said he would only return if it was for the New York Islanders, but the team was outside of the playoffs at the time he signed his deal with Colorado.

And it proved to give him his best shot at winning.

But Parise’s 36 goals and 69 points in 164 games at times the Islanders desperately needed depth scoring options shouldn’t be looked down upon.

The 39-year-old looks to close off his storied 1,254-game career with a Stanley Cup, and the Avalanche are giving him a good chance at that.

But hey, you can do what you want.

As long as you don’t root for the Rangers…