First off, here is the entire tournament bracket!

The top-seeded ’81-’82 Islanders got off to a great start in this series with a 5-1 win in Game 1. 11 different players registered a point in the win for the top seed, but Mike Bossy‘s two goals led the way. The 7th-seeded ’75-’76 Islanders rebounded with a 4-2 win in Game 2. The game was tied 2-2 after two periods, but a goal each from Clark Gillies and J.P. Parise got the ’75-’76 Islanders on the board in the series. Then, in Game 3, the ’75-’76 Islanders led 3-2 after the second period, but opened up a 6-2 lead just over four minutes into the third period. The top seed got a couple back, but the ’75-’76 Islanders took a 2-1 series lead with a 6-4 win. Defenseman Denis Potvin led the way offensively with a goal and two assists.

In Game 4, Bossy scored almost seven minutes into the second period to complete his hat trick for the ’81-’82 Islanders to give them a 3-2 lead. The ’75-’76 Islanders tied the game early in the third, but Bryan Trottier gave the lead right back to the top seed later in the third and that would be the game-winner to tie the series. The ’75-’76 Islanders took a 3-2 series lead after a four-goal third period led them to a 6-3 win. Potvin and Gillies, again, led the way with four (2G, 2A) and three (2G, 1A) points, respectively. Potvin then netted a hat trick in Game 6 for the ’75-’76 Islanders with his third goal making it a one-goal game in the third period. However, Gillies scored a little over a minute later to reinstate a two-goal lead for the top seed and they would hang on for a 6-4 win to force Game 7. Then, the top seed control Game 7 and won 5-2 thanks to multi-point games from Trottier and Bossy to clinch their first UNP appearance.

GAME 1:

1st Period 2nd Period 3rd Period Overtime Total ’75-’76 Islanders 0 1 0 — 1 ’81-’82 Islanders 1 3 1 — 5

GAME SUMMARY: ’81-’82 NYI – 5 ’75-’76 NYI – 1 (1-0 ’81-’82 NYI)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: RW – Mike Bossy (’81-’82 NYI) – 2 G 0 A 2 P +3 6 S

2nd Star: LW – John Tonelli (’81-’82 NYI) – 1 G 1 A 2 P +3 5 S 2 PIM

3rd Star: C – Bryan Trottier (’81-’82 NYI) – 0 G 2 A 2 P +3 1 S

GAME 2:

1st Period 2nd Period 3rd Period Overtime Total ’75-’76 Islanders 1 1 2 — 4 ’81-’82 Islanders 1 1 0 — 2

GAME SUMMARY: ’75-’76 NYI – 4 ’81-’82 NYI – 2 (1-1)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: RW – Billy Harris (’75-’76 NYI) – 1 G 1 A 2 P +1 3 S

2nd Star: LW – J.P. Parise (’75-’76 NYI) – 1 G 1 A 2 P Even 6 S

3rd Star: C – Bryan Trottier (’81-’82 NYI) – 1 G 1 A 2 P Even 7 S

GAME 3:

1st Period 2nd Period 3rd Period Overtime Total ’81-’82 Islanders 2 0 2 — 4 ’75-’76 Islanders 1 2 3 — 6

GAME SUMMARY: ’75-’76 NYI – 6 ’81-’82 NYI – 4 (2-1 ’75-’76 NYI)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: D – Denis Potvin (’75-’76 NYI) – 1 G 2 A 3 P Even 8 S

2nd Star: LW – Clark Gillies (’75-’76 NYI) – 2 G 0 A 2 P Even 6 S

3rd Star: RW – Mike Bossy (’81-’82 NYI) – 1 G 1 A 2 P +2 9 S

GAME 4:

1st Period 2nd Period 3rd Period Overtime Total ’81-’82 Islanders 2 1 1 — 4 ’75-’76 Islanders 2 0 1 — 3

GAME SUMMARY: ’81-’82 NYI – 4 ’75-’76 NYI – 3 (2-2)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: RW – Mike Bossy (’81-’82 NYI) – 3 G 1 A 4 P +2 6 S

2nd Star: C – Bryan Trottier (’81-’82 NYI) – 1 G 1 A 2 P +2 3 S 2 PIM

3rd Star: RW – Bob Nystrom (’75-’76 NYI) – 1 G 0 A 1 P +1 2 S 2 PIM

GAME 5:

1st Period 2nd Period 3rd Period Overtime Total ’75-’76 Islanders 2 0 4 — 6 ’81-’82 Islanders 2 0 1 — 3

GAME SUMMARY: ’75-’76 NYI – 6 ’81-’82 NYI – 3 (3-2 ’75-’76 NYI)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: D – Denis Potvin (’75-’76 NYI) – 2 G 2 A 4 P +1 8 S

2nd Star: LW – Clark Gillies (’75-’76 NYI) – 2 G 1 A 3 P +1 3 S

3rd Star: RW – Mike Bossy (’81-’82 NYI) – 2 G 1 A 3 P Even 8 S 2 PIM

GAME 6:

1st Period 2nd Period 3rd Period Overtime Total ’81-’82 Islanders 3 2 1 — 7 ’75-’76 Islanders 2 1 1 — 4

GAME SUMMARY: ’81-’82 NYI – 7 ’75-’76 NYI – 4 (3-3)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: RW – Mike Bossy (’81-’82 NYI) – 1 G 2 A 3 P +1 8 S

2nd Star: D – Denis Potvin (’75-’76 NYI) – 3 G 0 A 3 P -1 6 S

3rd Star: C – Bryan Trottier (’81-’82 NYI) – 1 G 2 A 3 P Even 7 S

GAME 7:

1st Period 2nd Period 3rd Period Overtime Total ’75-’76 Islanders 0 1 1 — 2 ’81-’82 Islanders 2 1 2 — 5

GAME SUMMARY: ’81-’82 NYI – 5 ’75-’76 NYI – 2 (4-3 ’81-’82 NYI)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: C – Bryan Trottier (’81-’82 NYI) – 1 G 1 A 2 P Even 3 S

2nd Star: D – Denis Potvin (’81-’82 NYI) – 1 G 0 A 1 P +3 2 S

3rd Star: RW – Mike Bossy (’81-’82 NYI) – 0 G 2 A 2 P +1 10 S

The ’81-’82 New York Islanders are the 42nd team to qualify for the upcoming 2015 Ultimate NHL Playoff. It will be their first trip to the tournament and they are the 21st team that will make their UNP debut. Up next is the 2015 Chicago Blackhawks Qualifying Tournament!