This Day in Isles History: May 24
Bobby Nystrom scores in overtime and the Islanders win their first Stanley Cup
By New York Islanders NewYorkIslanders.com May 24, 2026 Link copied May 24, 1980 - The dynasty is born! Bobby Nystrom scores at 7:11 of overtime from John Tonelli's cross-ice feed as the Isles beat the Flyers 5-4 in Game 6 to win their first Stanley Cup. Bryan Trottier wins the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP with 29 points (12G, 17A) through 21 games.
May 24 marks arguably the most important date in franchise history and the start of the Islanders four-straight Stanley Cups. To the guys on the ice, Nystrom's OT winner marked both excitement and relief.
"My first thought was just I'm so glad this is over," Nystrom said. "A couple of seconds after that it was "We won the Stanley Cup!" and everyone came out and was just jumping all over each other."
"To see the puck go in, see it dent the net, that was absolutely amazing," Nystrom continued. "And to be swamped by all the guys. I always felt that it was pandemonium. We were just so elated and happy that we had won the game, but also turned over the disappointments that we had in '78 and '79. We had finally won it. It was huge."
May 24, 2021 - Josh Bailey scores the double-OT winner in Game 5 against the Pittsburgh Penguins, giving the Islanders a 3-2 series lead. Bailey was the beneficiary of a Tristan Jarry turnover 51 seconds into the second sudden-death frame. Anthony Beauvillier and Jordan Eberle scored in regulation, while Ilya Sorokin made 48 saves.