The 2007–08 New York Islanders season was the 36th season in the franchise's history in the National Hockey League (NHL). The team finished with a record of 35–38–9, placing 13th in the Eastern Conference and 5th in the Atlantic Division. Despite high expectations following a playoff appearance the previous year, the Islanders missed the playoffs, failing to qualify for the first time since the 2005–06 season.
The team was coached by Ted Nolan, with Bill Guerin serving as captain. A notable highlight of the season was Al Arbour returning to coach his 1,500th game with the franchise on November 3, 2007, a milestone celebrated with a banner-raising ceremony. Offensively, the Islanders struggled, finishing last among all 30 NHL teams in goals scored during regulation play.
Offseason Key dates prior to the start of the season: The 2007 NHL entry draft took place in Columbus, Ohio on June 22–23 The free agency period began on July 1.
Forward Bill Guerin was named team captain, replacing departed forward Alexei Yashin.
Regular season Excluding five shootout-winning goals, the Islanders finished the regular season with 189 goals for, the fewest of all 30 teams in the NHL. They also allowed the most shorthanded goals in the NHL, with 15.
Significant events An early season highlight occurred on November 3, 2007, when Al Arbour returned to coach his 1,500th game for the Islanders at the behest of Ted Nolan, who wanted Arbour's regular season games coached total to reach 1,500, a round number. The Islanders came from behind to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3–2, which extended Arbour's NHL record for most games coached with one team and extended his NHL record 740 regular season wins with one team. Afterwards, in a post-game ceremony, the Islanders raised a new banner to honor Arbour's 1500th game coached for the Islanders.New York Islanders - News: ARBOUR 1500 BANNER RAISED - 11/04/2007
On January 22, 2008, the Islanders scored three short-handed goals in a 6–3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes.
Standings
Conference standings
Schedule and results
| 1 || October 5 || NY Islanders || 6 – 4 || Buffalo || || DiPietro || 18,690 || 1–0–0 || 2 ||
| 2 || October 6 || Buffalo || 2 – 3 || NY Islanders || || DiPietro || 16,234 || 2–0–0 || 4 ||
| 3 || October 8 || Washington || 2 – 1 || NY Islanders || || DiPietro || 16,234 || 2–1–0 || 4 ||
| 4 || October 10 || NY Rangers || 1 – 2 || NY Islanders || || DiPietro || 15,295 || 3–1–0 || 6 ||
| 5 || October 11 || NY Islanders || 1 – 8 || Toronto || || Dubielewicz || 19,319 || 3–2–0 || 6 ||
| 6 || October 13 || NY Islanders ||1 – 3 || Philadelphia || || DiPietro || 19,714 || 3–3–0 || 6 ||
| 7 || October 18 || NY Islanders || 5 – 2 || Washington || || DiPietro || 11,036 || 4–3–0 || 8 ||
| 8 || October 20 || New Jersey || 3 – 4 || NY Islanders || OT || DiPietro || 14,092 || 5–3–0 || 10 ||
| 9 || October 27 || Carolina || 8 – 3 || NY Islanders || || DiPietro || 13,136 || 5–4–0 || 10 ||
| 10 || November 1 || Tampa Bay || 0 – 4 || NY Islanders || || DiPietro || 11,008 || 6–4–0 || 12 ||
| 11 || November 3 || Pittsburgh || 2 – 3 || NY Islanders || || Dubielewicz || 16,234 || 7–4–0 || 14 ||
| 12 || November 6 || NY Rangers || 2 – 3 || NY Islanders || || DiPietro || 15,158 || 8–4–0 || 16 ||
| 13 || November 10 || New Jersey || 1 – 2 || NY Islanders || || DiPietro || 15,361 || 9–4–0 || 18 ||
| 14 || November 12 || NY Islanders || 2 – 3 || Philadelphia || || DiPietro || 19,312 || 9–5–0 || 18 ||
| 15 || November 15 || NY Islanders || 2 – 3 || Pittsburgh || || DiPietro || 16,972 || 9–6–0 || 18 ||
| 16 || November 16 || NY Islanders || 1 – 0 || New Jersey || || DiPietro || 15,076 || 10–6–0 || 20 ||
| 17 || November 19 || NY Islanders || 2 – 1 || NY Rangers || || DiPietro || 18,200 || 11–6–0 || 22 ||
| 18 || November 21 || Montreal || 4 – 1 || NY Islanders || || DiPietro || 13,153 || 11–7–0 || 22 ||
| 19 || November 23 || NY Islanders || 1 – 2 || Boston || || DiPietro || 17,565 || 11–8–0 || 22 ||
| 20 || November 24 || Boston || 1 – 2 || NY Islanders || || DiPietro || 16,234 || 12–8–0 || 24 ||
| 21 || November 26 || Dallas || 3 – 2 || NY Islanders || OT || DiPietro || 8,161 || 12–8–1 || 25 ||
| 22 || November 28 || Ottawa || 2 – 3 || NY Islanders || SO || DiPietro || 9,211 || 13–8–1 || 27 ||
| 23 || November 29 || NY Islanders || 2 – 4 || NY Rangers || || DiPietro || 18,200 || 13–9–1 || 27 ||
| 24 || December 1 || Atlanta || 4 – 0 || NY Islanders || || Dubielewicz || 15,355 || 13–10–1 || 27 ||
| 25 || December 3 || Boston || 3 – 1 || NY Islanders || || DiPietro || 11,040 || 13–11–1 || 27 ||
| 26 || December 5 || NY Islanders || 3 – 4 || Atlanta || SO || DiPietro || 14,018 || 13–11–2 || 28 ||
| 27 || December 7 || NY Islanders || 0 – 3 || Florida || || DiPietro || 14,502 || 13–12–2 || 28 ||
| 28 || December 8 || NY Islanders || 3 – 2 || Tampa Bay || OT || DiPietro || 18,319 || 14–12–2 || 30 ||
| 29 || December 12 || New York Islanders|NY Islanders || 3 – 5 || Buffalo || || DiPietro || 18,690 || 14–13–2 || 30 ||
| 30 || December 13 || Phoenix || 2 – 3 || NY Islanders || || DiPietro || 9,581 || 15–13–2 || 32 ||
| 31 || December 15 || Pittsburgh || 3 – 2 || NY Islanders || || DiPietro || 15,269 || 15–14–2 || 32 ||
| 32 || December 19 || Buffalo || 2 – 1 || NY Islanders || || DiPietro || 10,806 || 15–15–2 || 32 ||
| 33 || December 21 || NY Islanders || 4 – 2 || Pittsburgh || || DiPietro || 17,008 || 16–15–2 || 34 ||
| 34 || December 22 || Washington || 2 – 3 || NY Islanders || OT || DiPietro || 14,305 || 17–15–2 || 36 ||
| 35 || December 26 || Toronto || 3 – 4 || NY Islanders || OT || Dubielewicz || 15,301 || 18–15–2 || 38 ||
| 36 || December 27 || NY Islanders || 2 – 5 || Ottawa || || Dubielewicz || 20,268 ||18–16–2 || 38 ||
| 37 || December 29 || New Jersey || 2 – 5 || NY Islanders || || Dubielewicz || 16,234 || 19–16–2 || 40 ||
| 38 || December 31 || NY Islanders || 4 – 1 || Carolina || || Dubielewicz || 17,091 || 20–16–2 || 42 ||
| 39 || January 3 || Florida || 4 – 3 || NY Islanders || OT || DiPietro || 11,428 || 20–16–3 || 43 ||
| 40 || January 5 || NY Islanders || 1 – 2 || Colorado || OT || DiPietro || 17,154 || 20–16–4 || 44 ||
| 41 || January 7 || NY Islanders || 0 – 4 || Edmonton || || DiPietro || 16,839 || 20–17–4 || 44 ||
| 42 || January 8 || NY Islanders || 2 – 3 || Vancouver || SO || DiPietro || 18,630 || 20–17–5 || 45 ||
| 43 || January 11 || NY Islanders || 5 – 4 || Calgary || SO || DiPietro || 19,289 || 21–17–5 || 47 ||
| 44 || January 13 || NY Islanders || 3 – 1 || Ottawa || || DiPietro || 19,804 || 22–17–5 || 49 ||
| 45 || January 15 || Montreal || 3 – 1 || NY Islanders || || DiPietro || 11,439 || 22–18–5 || 49 ||
| 46 || January 16 || NY Islanders || 3 – 1 || New Jersey || || DiPietro || 15,975 || 23–18–5 || 51 ||
| 47 || January 19 || Philadelphia || 5 – 3 || NY Islanders || || DiPietro || 16,234 || 23–19–5 || 51 ||
| 48 || January 21 || Carolina || 3 – 2 || NY Islanders || OT || DiPietro || 16,234 || 23–19–6 || 52 ||
| 49 || January 22 || NY Islanders || 6 – 3 || Carolina || || Dubielewicz || 15,675 || 24–19–6 || 54 ||
| 50 || January 24 || NY Islanders || 1 – 4 || Boston || || DiPietro || 13,461 || 24–20–6 || 54 ||
| 51 || January 29 || Ottawa || 5 – 2 || NY Islanders || || DiPietro || 9,546 || 24–21–6 || 54 ||
| 52 || January 31 || Los Angeles || 3 – 1 || NY Islanders || || Dubielewicz || 10,148 || 24–22–6 || 54 ||
| 53 || February 2 || NY Islanders || 1 – 4 || Montreal || || DiPietro || 21,273 || 24–23–6 || 54 ||
| 54 || February 5 || Anaheim || 3 – 0 || NY Islanders || || DiPietro || 9,649 || 24–24–6 || 54 ||
| 55 || February 7 || NY Islanders || 3 – 4 || Pittsburgh || || DiPietro || 17,075 || 24–25–6 || 54 ||
| 56 || February 9 || NY Islanders || 3 – 4 || Minnesota || OT || DiPietro || 18,568 || 24–25–7 || 55 ||
| 57 || February 12 || Philadelphia || 3 – 4 || NY Islanders || || DiPietro || 11,193 || 25–25–7 || 57 ||
| 58 || February 14 || NY Islanders || 5 – 4 || Toronto || || DiPietro || 19,227 || 26–25–7 || 59 ||
| 59 || February 16 || Atlanta || 1 – 4 || NY Islanders || || DiPietro || 16,234 || 27–25–7 || 61 ||
| 60 || February 18 || San Jose || 2 – 3 || NY Islanders || || DiPietro || 16,234 || 28–25–7 || 63 ||
| 61 || February 20 || NY Islanders || 3 – 2 || Washington || SO || DiPietro || 17,584 || 29–25–7 || 65 ||
| 62 || February 21 || Tampa Bay || 0 – 1 || NY Islanders || || DiPietro || 12,382 || 30–25–7 || 67 ||
| 63 || February 23 || NY Islanders || 2 – 4 || New Jersey || || DiPietro || 17,625 || 30–26–7 || 67 ||
| 64 || February 26 || Pittsburgh || 4 – 2 || NY Islanders || || DiPietro || 11,258 || 30–27–7 || 67 ||
| 65 || February 28 || NY Islanders || 5 – 4 || Atlanta || OT || DiPietro || 16,332 || 31–27–7 || 69 ||
| 66 || March 1 || Philadelphia || 4 – 1 || NY Islanders || || DiPietro || 15,136 || 31–28–7 || 69 ||
| 67 || March 2 || Florida || 1 – 0 || NY Islanders || || Dubielewicz || 15,314 || 31–29–7 || 69 ||
| 68 || March 4 || NY Islanders || 4 – 3 || NY Rangers || SO || Dubielewicz || 18,200 || 32–29–7 || 71 ||
| 69 || March 6 || NY Rangers || 4 – 1 || NY Islanders || || Dubielewicz || 16,234 || 32–30–7 || 71 ||
| 70 || March 8 || NY Islanders || 1 – 4 || Philadelphia || || Dubielewicz || 19,748 || 32–31–7 || 71 ||
| 71 || March 11 || NY Islanders || 4 – 8 || Tampa Bay || || DiPietro || 19,111 || 32–32–7 || 71 ||
| 72 || March 12 || NY Islanders || 2 – 4 || Florida || || DiPietro || 15,233 || 32–33–7 || 71 ||
| 73 || March 15 || NY Islanders || 0 – 3 || Montreal || || DiPietro || 21,273 || 32–34–7 || 71 ||
| 74 || March 18 || Toronto || 3 – 1 || NY Islanders || || Dubielewicz || 13,134 || 32–35–7 || 71 ||
| 75 || March 21 || NY Islanders || 3 – 1 || New Jersey || || Dubielewicz || 17,075 || 33–35–7 || 73 ||
| 76 || March 23 || NY Islanders || 1 – 4 || Philadelphia || || MacDonald || 19,136 || 33–36–7 || 73 ||
| 77 || March 24 || Pittsburgh || 1 – 4 || NY Islanders || || Dubielewicz || 16,234 || 34–36–7 || 75 ||
| 78 || March 27 || NY Islanders || 1 – 3 || Pittsburgh || || Dubielewicz || 17,025 || 34–37–7 || 75 ||
| 79 || March 29 || Philadelphia || 4 – 3 || NY Islanders || SO || Dubielewicz || 15,223 || 34–37–8 || 76 ||
| 80 || April 1 || New Jersey || 2 – 1 || NY Islanders || OT || MacDonald || 12,357 || 34–37–9 || 77 ||
| 81 || April 3 || NY Rangers || 3 – 0 || NY Islanders || || Dubielewicz || 16,234 || 34–38–9 || 77 ||
| 82 || April 4 || NY Islanders || 4 – 3 || NY Rangers || OT || Dubielewicz || 18,200 ||35–38–9 || 79 ||
Legend:
Playoffs
The Islanders had qualified for the playoffs in the previous season, but the 2007–08 season ended with the team missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2005–06 season.
Player statistics
Skaters Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
Regular season Playoffs Player GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM +/- Mike Comrie 76 21 28 49 87 -21 Bill Guerin 81 23 21 44 65 -15 Miroslav Satan 80 16 25 41 39 -11 Trent Hunter 82 12 29 41 43 -17 Josef Vasicek 81 16 19 35 53 +1 Ruslan Fedotenko 67 16 17 33 40 -9 Richard Park 82 12 20 32 20 -4 Mike Sillinger 52 14 12 26 28 -10 Bryan Berard 54 5 17 22 48 -17 Sean Bergenheim 78 10 12 22 62 -3 Chris Campoli 46 4 14 18 16 -1 Andy Hilbert 70 8 8 16 18 +2 Radek Martinek 69 0 15 15 40 -9 Blake Comeau 51 8 7 15 22 +1 Bruno Gervais 60 0 13 13 34 -5 Freddy Meyer 52 3 9 12 22 +6 Andy Sutton 58 1 7 8 86 -6 Brendan Witt 59 2 5 7 51 -8 Kyle Okposo 9 2 3 5 2 +3 Jeff Tambellini 31 1 3 4 8 -9 Tim Jackman 36 1 3 4 57 -3 Chris Simon 28 1 2 3 43 -2 Frans Nielsen 16 2 1 3 0 +1 Rob Davison 19 1 1 2 32 -3 Aaron Johnson 30 0 2 2 30 +2 Drew Fata 5 0 1 1 4 -1 Ben Walter 8 1 0 1 0 -1 Jon Sim 2 0 1 1 2 -1 Matthew Spiller 9 0 1 1 7 -2 Jack Hillen 2 0 1 1 4 +1
Goaltenders