The Islanders, unlike, say, the Maple Leafs or Hurricanes, probably do not need to view their problems through the lens of trying to beat the Panthers.
Having missed the playoffs entirely this past season, the Islanders are too far off to view their window of opportunity as lining up with Florida’s run of dominance in the Eastern Conference. They need to build up a core instead of wondering whether the clock will run out on one.
Still, there are lessons to be learned from the Panthers’ unflinching and relentless run to back-to-back Stanley Cups.
Arguably the most impressive pair of numbers on Florida’s statistical résumé: The Panthers ended the regular season second overall in Corsi For percentage while leading the league in raw hit totals.
