The 2019–20 New York Islanders season was the 48th season in the franchise's history.[2] It was their fifth season in the Barclays Center in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, which they moved into after leaving Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Nassau County on Long Island at the conclusion of the 2014–15 season. During the regular season, the Islanders were scheduled to play 21 home games at Nassau Coliseum but on September 23 moved seven more games from the Barclays Center, making it a total of 28 games to be played at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.[3] On February 29, 2020, it was announced that the Islanders would play their last game at Barclays Center on March 22, and then would move to Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum permanently.[4][5][6]
The season was suspended by the league officials on March 12, 2020, after several other professional and collegiate sports organizations followed suit as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.[7][8] On May 26, the NHL regular season was officially declared over with the remaining games being cancelled.[9] Instead of Nassau Coliseum, the Islanders started the playoffs at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. The Islanders advanced from the qualifying round where they defeated the Florida Panthers in four games. They would then defeat the Washington Capitals in five games in the first round. They faced off against the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round, defeating them in seven games and advanced to the conference finals for the first time since 1993, and shifted the postseason to Rogers Place in Edmonton. However, the Islanders went on to lose to the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games, ending their playoff run. The Islanders set a franchise record for most games played (22) in the postseason.[10]
The preseason schedule was published on June 18, 2019.[14]
Notes: a Game was played at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. b Game was played at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
The regular season schedule was released on June 25, 2019.[22] On September 23, the Islanders revised their schedule and moved seven games from Barclays Center to Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.[3]
Legend: Win (2 points) Loss (0 points) Overtime/shootout loss (1 point) Notes: a Game was scheduled to be played at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. b Game was scheduled to be played at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York.
The Islanders faced the Florida Panthers in the qualifying round,[91] defeating them in four games.[92]
The Islanders faced the Washington Capitals in the first round,[93] defeating them in five games.[94]
The Islanders faced the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round, defeating them in seven games,[95] and advanced to the conference finals for the first time since 1993.[96]
The Islanders faced the Tampa Bay Lightning in the conference finals, where they lost in six games.[97]
Legend: Win Loss
As of September 17, 2020[120][121]
The Islanders have been involved in the following transactions during the 2019–20 season.
Below are the New York Islanders' selections at the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, which was held on June 21 and 22, 2019, at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia.