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Washington Capitals Five Biggest Rivals

By Dave Stevenson

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#4: Washington Capitals Vs. New York Islanders

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

They say misery loves company. The Washington Capitals and New York Islanders are proof that is not always the case. The Capitals and Islanders have both known misery, but they sure don’t like each other. This is an interesting rivalry because both teams are relatively new to the NHL. The Islanders became an NHL team in 1972 and the Capitals became one in 1974.

This rivalry stems from way back in the 1980’s, when the Islanders ruled the NHL. The Capitals made the playoffs for the first time in the 1982-1983 season. The Islanders crushed them 3-1 in the Division Semifinals and went on to win their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup. Over the next four seasons, the Capitals and Islanders would square off in the playoffs each year. The Islanders beat the Caps in three of those years (1984, 1985, and 1987) but the Caps did beat the Islanders in 1986 before losing to the New York Rangers in the division finals.

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    • The Caps and Islanders wouldn’t meet again until the 1992-1993 playoffs. The Islanders beat the Caps 4-2. Dale Hunter famously cheap shotted an Islander to end the series. The rivalry was renewed! And then the Islanders started to not do well, which kind of killed the rivalry. The rivalry was put on hold after the Caps moved from the Atlantic Division to the Southeast Division. The Islanders sinking into oblivion and becoming a mockery of a franchise probably had something to do with that too.

    Thanks to another change of divisions, the Washington Capitals and Islanders are both in the same division again. And this year, the Islanders are back to being really good. This bodes well for the future of this rivalry. Old Caps fans can hate the Islanders because of Mike Bossy and all the old Islanders. New Caps fans can hate the Islanders because who doesn’t love to hate New York? Old and new Caps fans can agree that they all hate the Islanders. This rivalry is one playoff match-up away from being back in its 1980’s glory days!

    Next: Speaking of irrational hatred towards the Big Apple...

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