Is there a Devils/Islanders rivalry?

[LightningStorm]

Crosstown New York rivalries in all the big 4 sports are something that's interested me as of late. Much has been made about the rivalry you guys have with the Rangers, as well as the one they have with the Islanders. This includes the debate of which one is the Rangers biggest rival. But one thing I've wondered is what the Devils and Islanders fanbases think of each other. With the Isles, is your mentality "the enemy of my enemy is my friend," ambivalence/indifference, or foes (albeit less than the Rangers). I recognize there's never been a time when both were good at the same time. You guys arrived near the end of their dynasty, and weren't even good for a while. Meanwhile, your run of 3 cups was during their infamous Milbury years. One thing I do imagine is if the Devils had a big rivalry with the Isles, a bigger deal would've been made when Lamoriello became their GM, even if he was in Toronto between NJ and LI.

What's your opinion on how big of rivals the Devils are with the Isles, and what's your sense on what the fanbase as a whole thinks of them?

 

[Satans Hockey]

I don't give two shits about the Islanders actual roster but I absolutely hate their fans. Bunch of loud mouths who always come out of the wood work when their team is actually good. They have been absolutely obnoxious in our arena over the last handful of seasons.

Different shade of blue, same shit bag fans. f*** em, it's a shame they didn't f*** off to Quebec or literally anywhere else.

 

[ScottyK]

Zero meaningful ( have there been any ? ) playoff matchups.

Kinda just don't care about them honestly.

 

[britdevil]

No

 

[TheUnseenHand]

**** the isles.

 

[ninetyeight]

Being a devils fan outside NJ/US I personally don't care anymore than any other divisional rival. If I lived in the ny/nj area and bunch of my asshole coworkers were yapping about them daily I might feel stronger about this.

Now rangers, that's a whole another thing..

 

[Call Me Al]

no rivalry, but it’s always annoying living around other teams fans. that said the islanders fans have endured much much worse than us over way longer so i sympathize with them, and i think they’re good loyal fans for the most part. but i think lou going there makes me root against them more than i would otherwise but it’s less about the franchise

 

[SJinNewJersey]

I do remember how obnoxious Isle fans were at the Meadowlands Arena in the early day, they would bus them in and they would take over an entire upper section of the arena. It was nice when the Devs beat the Isles in 88 in the playoffs. But since that was the only time we have met in the playoffs, and both teams haven't been good at the same time, there doesn't seem to be much of a rivalry.

 

[Unknown Caller]

Surprisingly obnoxious fans for a team that has won absolutely nothing in 30 plus years. The two teams have never been good at the same time, so there has been little reason for an on-ice rivalry so far though.

 

[Hisch13r]

Nah

 

[BurntToast]

It’s a weird situation because I feel to some degree that they are poaching the same fans..

Mets/Jets/Islanders

Mets/Jets/Devils

 

[Better Call Sal]

Yeah, nah. Fans that have invaded the arena have been obnoxious beyond belief, and as mentioned, with no tangible success to speak of. But with all that said, I have no ill will towards the Islanders.

 

[JimEIV]

Don't really think about the Islanders...in recent years I have had some interest to see how Lou is doing but as far as rivals, I honestly have almost no thought toward the Islanders good or bad.

 

[Satans Hockey]

It’s a weird situation because I feel to some degree that they are poaching the same fans..

Mets/Jets/Islanders

Mets/Jets/Devils

For arguments sake if there were no Devils there's 0 way I'd end up ever being an Islanders fan and I'd doubt a lot of Devils fans would either. Nassau/Brooklyn/Belmont are all pretty ridiculous commutes for a lot of people to ever commit to getting season tickets.

 

[Lou is God]

Our very first playoff opponent ever was the Islanders in 1987-88 season and that was also the last time we have faced them in the playoffs, in the meantime we have played the Rangers four times (with two being epic series), the Flyers three times and the Pens at least two I can recall. That's where rivalries are born, not during the regular season.

 

[Lou is God]

For arguments sake if there were no Devils there's 0 way I'd end up ever being an Islanders fan and I'd doubt a lot of Devils fans would either. Nassau/Brooklyn/Belmont are all pretty ridiculous commutes for a lot of people to ever commit to getting season tickets.

The Islanders were my team before the Devils came to town, and I lived and died on them, still remember the heartbreak of losing to the Leafs in 1978 playoffs, the Rags in 5 games the next year before finally winning their first cup in 1980. Before they finally did raise the chalice they were starting to develop a reputation as postseason chokers.

And that Islanders dynasty doesn't get the love it deserves, think about this little tidbit, they won 19 straight playoff series.....19.

 

[SETHROLLINS]

No, rivalry. I hate the Isles fan base but the current Isles roster is a likeable bunch. Yes....even Parise at least to me.

I hate their love for the Nassau Coliseum. They despised that place for yearsssssssssss and finally when they announced the move to Barclays Center they got all nostalgia about it.

 

[JimEIV]

For arguments sake if there were no Devils there's 0 way I'd end up ever being an Islanders fan and I'd doubt a lot of Devils fans would either. Nassau/Brooklyn/Belmont are all pretty ridiculous commutes for a lot of people to ever commit to getting season tickets.

When I was young and there were no Devils, the very few people I knew that liked hockey were 100% Ranger fans.

I think having the Rangers on Channel 9 back then was huge for hockey in this area. I am sure it was many peoples first glimpse of NHL hockey. Wish we had a local broadcast today for no other reason than exposure.

 

[Lou is God]

When I was young and there were no Devils, the very few people I knew that liked hockey were 100% Ranger fans.

I think having the Rangers on Channel 9 back then was huge for hockey in this area. I am sure it was many peoples first glimpse of NHL hockey. Wish we had a local broadcast today for no other reason than exposure.

I remember the Islanders were on Channel 9 too.

 

[Devilsfan992]

No

 

[TBF1972]

as long as they beat the rangers, i like them.

 

[Bleedred]

Absolutely not. There should never be a rivalry here. We love the Islanders. Devils fans must love the Islanders. I rooted for them in the playoffs the last two years and every time they’re in and we’re not. I was almost as angry and hurt when they lost in the ECF to your Lightning the last two years as I would have been if it were the Devils.

We must also stick together with them and unite because we both hate the Rangers.

I’m a huge fan.

 

[MartyOwns]

i'll hate the islanders if they every become relevant. and i'm sure they feel the same way about us.

 

[JK3]

Absolutely not. There should never be a rivalry here. We love the Islanders. Devils fans must love the Islanders. I rooted for them in the playoffs the last two years and every time they’re in and we’re not. I was almost as angry and hurt when they lost in the ECF to your Lightning the last two years as I would have been if it were the Devils.

We must also stick together with them and unite because we both hate the Rangers.

I’m a huge fan.

 

[My3Sons]

The NYI don't have the years of build up animosity with most of the NJ fanbase the way the NYR, PHI, and probably even PIT have.