The 1983–84 New York Islanders season was the 12th season for the franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Islanders entered to the season as the four-time defending Stanley Cup champions, and subsequently went the Stanley Cup Final for the fifth time in a row, but lost four games to one in a rematch against the Edmonton Oilers.
The Islanders nevertheless set a new North American major professional sports record by winning nineteen consecutive playoff series (two more than the seventeen series won by the Boston Celtics in their eight-year NBA championship dynasty) and unmatched in any major sport since.
As of 2026, this remains the most recent season that the Islanders made it to the Stanley Cup Final.
Offseason
NHL draft
Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team 1 3 Pat LaFontaine Verdun Juniors (QMJHL) 1 16 Gerald Diduck Lethbridge Broncos (WHL) 2 37 Garnet McKechney Kitchener Rangers (OHL) 3 57 Mike Neill Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) 4 65 Mikko Makela Ilves Tampere (Finland) 5 84 Bob Caulfield Detroit Lakes High School (USHS-MN) 5 97 Ron Viglasi Victoria Cougars (WHL) 6 117 Darin Illikainen Hermantown High School (USHS-MN) 7 137 Jim Sprenger Cloquet High School (USHS-MN) 8 157 Dale Henry Saskatoon Blades (WHL) 9 177 Kevin Vescio North Bay Centennials (OHL) 10 197 Dave Shellington Cornwall Royals (OHL) 11 217 John Bjorkman Warroad High School (USHS-MN) 12 237 Peter McGeough Bishop Hendricken High School (USHS-RI)
Regular season
All Star Game The 35th National Hockey League All-Star Game was held at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The Campbell Conference defeated the Wales Conference 9–3. Denis Potvin, Bryan Trottier, Mike Bossy, and head coach Al Arbour participated in the All-Star Game as representatives of the Wales Conference.
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Schedule and results
Regular season
| 1 || October 4, 1983 || NY Islanders || 3–7 || Quebec || || || Quebec Coliseum || 0–1–0 || 0 ||
| 2 || October 6, 1983 || NY Islanders || 7–4 || Montreal || || Smith || Montreal Forum16,685 || 1–1–0 || 2 ||
| 3 || October 8, 1983 || NY Islanders || 8–7 || Washington || OT || || Capital Centre || 2–1–0 || 4 ||
| 4 || October 11, 1983 || Los Angeles || 2–5 || NY Islanders || || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 3–1–0 || 6 ||
| 5 || October 15, 1983 || Philadelphia || 5–1 || NY Islanders || || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 3–2–0 || 6 ||
| 6 || October 16, 1983 || NY Islanders || 3–2 || Buffalo || || || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium || 4–2–0 || 8 ||
| 7 || October 18, 1983 || Calgary || 4–3 || NY Islanders || || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 4–3–0 || 8 ||
| 8 || October 22, 1983 || NY Rangers || 3–2 || NY Islanders || || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 4–4–0 || 8 ||
| 9 || October 23, 1983 || NY Islanders || 5–6 || NY Rangers || OT || || Madison Square Garden || 4–5–0 || 8 ||
| 10 || October 25, 1983 || Winnipeg || 4–2 || NY Islanders || || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 4–6–0 || 8 ||
| 11 || October 29, 1983 || New Jersey || 3–5 || NY Islanders || || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 5–6–0 || 10 ||
| 12 || October 30, 1983 || NY Islanders || 6–2 || Philadelphia || || || The Spectrum || 6–6–0 || 12 ||
| 13 || November 1, 1983 || Vancouver || 3–6 || NY Islanders || || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 8–5–0 || 16 ||
| 14 || November 4, 1983 || NY Islanders || 6–1 || New Jersey || || || Brendan Byrne Arena || 9–5–0 || 18 ||
| 15 || November 5, 1983 || Buffalo || 0–4 || NY Islanders || || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 10–5–0 || 20 ||
| 16 || November 8, 1983 || Philadelphia || 1–4 || NY Islanders || || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 11–5–0 || 22 ||
| 17 || November 11, 1983 || NY Islanders || 6–5 || Pittsburgh || || || Pittsburgh Civic Arena || 12–5–0 || 24 ||
| 18 || November 12, 1983 || Pittsburgh || 4–2 || NY Islanders || || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 11–7–0 || 22 ||
| 19 || November 15, 1983 || Hartford || 4–6 || NY Islanders || || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 12–7–0 || 24 ||
| 20 || November 18, 1983 || NY Islanders || 1–7 || Washington || || || Capital Centre || 12–8–0 || 24 ||
| 21 || November 19, 1983 || Washington || 2–6 || NY Islanders || || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 13–8–0 || 26 ||
| 22 || November 22, 1983 || Quebec || 2–3 || NY Islanders || || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 14–8–0 || 28 ||
| 23 || November 23, 1983 || NY Islanders || 4–2 || Philadelphia || || || The Spectrum || 15–8–0 || 30 ||
| 24 || November 26, 1983 || Chicago || 3–9 || NY Islanders || || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 16–8–0 || 32 ||
| 25 || November 29, 1983 || NY Islanders || 5–5 || St. Louis || OT || || St. Louis Arena || 16–8–1 || 33 ||
| 26 || December 1, 1983 || NY Islanders || 2–6 || Calgary || || || Olympic Saddledome || 16–9–1 || 33 ||
| 27 || December 4, 1983 || NY Islanders || 4–2 || Edmonton || || Melanson || Northlands Coliseum17,498 || 17–9–1 || 35 ||
| 28 || December 6, 1983 || NY Islanders || 5–2 || Vancouver || || || Pacific Coliseum || 18–9–1 || 37 ||
| 29 || December 7, 1983 || NY Islanders || 4–4 || Los Angeles || OT || || The Forum || 18–9–2 || 38 ||
| 30 || December 10, 1983 || NY Islanders || 4–2 || Minnesota || || || Met Center || 19–9–2 || 40 ||
| 31 || December 13, 1983 || Edmonton || 5–8 || NY Islanders || || Smith || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum15,850 || 20–9–2 || 42 ||
| 32 || December 15, 1983 || Detroit || 2–4 || NY Islanders || || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 21–9–2 || 44 ||
| 33 || December 17, 1983 || NY Rangers || 1–7 || NY Islanders || || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 22–9–2 || 46 ||
| 34 || December 20, 1983 || Pittsburgh || 3–11 || NY Islanders || || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 23–9–2 || 48 ||
| 35 || December 22, 1983 || Washington || 1–6 || NY Islanders || || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 24–9–2 || 50 ||
| 36 || December 23, 1983 || NY Islanders || 3–7 || Washington || || || Capital Centre || 24–10–2 || 50 ||
| 37 || December 28, 1983 || NY Islanders || 6–5 || Los Angeles || OT || || The Forum || 25–10–2 || 52 ||
| 38 || December 30, 1983 || NY Islanders || 3–4 || Winnipeg || OT || || Winnipeg Arena || 25–11–2 || 52 ||
| 39 || December 31, 1983 || NY Islanders || 7–3 || Minnesota || || || Met Center || 26–11–2 || 54 ||
| 40 || January 3, 1984 || Boston || 4–2 || NY Islanders || || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 26–12–2 || 54 ||
| 41 || January 5, 1984 || NY Islanders || 2–4 || Hartford || || || Hartford Civic Center || 26–13–2 || 54 ||
| 42 || January 7, 1984 || Chicago || 3–5 || NY Islanders || || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 27–13–2 || 56 ||
| 43 || January 8, 1984 || NY Islanders || 4–5 || NY Rangers || || || Madison Square Garden || 27–14–2 || 56 ||
| 44 || January 10, 1984 || New Jersey || 2–4 || NY Islanders || || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 28–14–8 || 58 ||
| 45 || January 12, 1984 || Montreal || 3–7 || NY Islanders || || Smith || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum15,850 || 29–14–2 || 60 ||
| 46 || January 14, 1984 || NY Rangers || 2–4 || NY Islanders || || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 30–14–2 || 62 ||
| 47 || January 16, 1984 || NY Islanders || 0–2 || Boston || || || Boston Garden || 30–15–2 || 62 ||
| 48 || January 18, 1984 || NY Islanders || 9–1 || Chicago || || || Chicago Stadium || 31–15–2 || 64 ||
| 49 || January 21, 1984 || NY Islanders || 1–7 || Philadelphia || || || The Spectrum || 31–16–2 || 64 ||
| 50 || January 24, 1984 || NY Islanders || 0–4 || Detroit || || || Joe Louis Arena || 31–17–2 || 64 ||
| 51 || January 26, 1984 || Quebec || 5–1 || NY Islanders || || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 31–18–2 || 64 ||
| 52 || January 28, 1984 || Detroit || 4–3 || NY Islanders || || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 31–19–2 || 64 || |- style="background:#bbbfff;" | colspan="11"|NHL All-Star Game in East Rutherford, New Jersey
| 53 || February 2, 1984 || St. Louis || 5–2 || NY Islanders || || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 31–20–2 || 64 ||
| 54 || February 4, 1984 || Pittsburgh || 5–6 || NY Islanders || || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 32–20–2 || 66 ||
| 55 || February 5, 1984 || NY Islanders || 5–4 || Pittsburgh || || || Pittsburgh Civic Arena || 33–20–2 || 68 ||
| 56 || February 7, 1984 || Edmonton || 3–5 || NY Islanders || || Melanson || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum15,806 || 34–20–2 || 70 ||
| 57 || February 11, 1984 || Vancouver || 4–6 || NY Islanders || || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 35–20–2 || 72 ||
| 58 || February 13, 1984 || NY Islanders || 1–3 || Toronto || || || Maple Leaf Gardens || 35–21–2 || 72 ||
| 59 || February 15, 1984 || NY Islanders || 2–3 || NY Rangers || || || Madison Square Garden || 35–22–2 || 72 ||
| 60 || February 18, 1984 || NY Rangers || 3–4 || NY Islanders || || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 36–22–2 || 74 ||
| 61 || February 19, 1984 || NY Islanders || 5–4 || New Jersey || OT || || Brendan Byrne Arena || 37–22–2 || 76 ||
| 62 || February 23, 1984 || St. Louis || 1–5 || NY Islanders || || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 38–22–2 || 78 ||
| 63 || February 25, 1984 || New Jersey || 1–7 || NY Islanders || || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 39–22–1 || 80 ||
| 64 || February 26, 1984 || NY Islanders || 3–5 || Philadelphia || || || The Spectrum || 39–23–2 || 80 ||
| 65 || February 29, 1984 || NY Islanders || 4–3 || Winnipeg || || || Winnipeg Arena || 40–23–2 || 82 ||
| 66 || March 3, 1984 || NY Islanders || 11–6 || Toronto || || || Maple Leaf Gardens || 41–23–2 || 84 ||
| 67 || March 6, 1984 || Philadelphia || 2–5 || NY Islanders || || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 42–23–2 || 86 ||
| 68 || March 8, 1984 || Toronto || 5–9 || NY Islanders || || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 43–23–2 || 88 ||
| 69 || March 10, 1984 || Calgary || 5–4 || NY Islanders || OT || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 43–24–2 || 88 ||
| 70 || March 11, 1984 || NY Islanders || 6–4 || Pittsburgh || || || Pittsburgh Civic Arena || 44–24–2 || 90 ||
| 71 || March 13, 1984 || NY Islanders || 5–1 || New Jersey || || || Brendan Byrne Arena || 45–24–2 || 92 ||
| 72 || March 17, 1984 || Washington || 2–1 || NY Islanders || || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 45–25–2 || 92 ||
| 73 || March 18, 1984 || NY Islanders || 4–5 || Hartford || || || Hartford Civic Center || 45–26–2 || 92 ||
| 74 || March 20, 1984 || New Jersey || 2–5 || NY Islanders || || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 46–26–2 || 94 ||
| 75 || March 22, 1984 || NY Islanders || 3–3 || Boston || OT || || Boston Garden || 46–26–3 || 95 ||
| 76 || March 24, 1984 || Minnesota || 4–4 || NY Islanders || OT || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 46–26–4 || 96 ||
| 77 || March 25, 1984 || NY Islanders || 5–3 || Buffalo || || || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium || 47–26–4 || 98 ||
| 78 || March 27, 1984 || Montreal || 0–7 || NY Islanders || || Smith || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum15,850 || 48–26–4 || 100 ||
| 79 || March 31, 1984 || NY Islanders || 3–1 || Washington || || || Capital Centre || 49–26–4 || 102 ||
| 80 || April 1, 1984 || NY Islanders || 2–1 || Pittsburgh || || || Pittsburgh Civic Arena || 50–26–4 || 104 ||
Legend:
Playoffs
| 1 || April 4, 1984 || NY Rangers || 1–4 || NY Islanders || || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 1–0 ||
| 2 || April 5, 1984 || NY Rangers || 3–0 || NY Islanders || || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 1–1 ||
| 3 || April 7, 1984 || NY Islanders || 2–7 || NY Rangers || || || Madison Square Garden || 1–2 ||
| 4 || April 8, 1984 || NY Islanders || 4–1 || NY Rangers || || || Madison Square Garden || 2–2 ||
| 5 || April 10, 1984 || NY Rangers || 2–3 || NY Islanders || OT || || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 3–2 ||