It was the first Stanley Cup playoff victory at home for the Islanders since April 28, 2002, when they beat Toronto in a first-round game.

WSJ: Islanders Even It Up

"I was pretty mediocre for the first month and a half of the season, " Okposo said Tuesday, before the Islanders resumed their Stanley Cup playoff series in the evening against the Penguins at Nassau Coliseum.

WSJ: Hungry on the Island

But the reality is that the preference was to build for a Stanley Cup versus a playoff run.

WSJ: Busy Blue Jackets add Gaborik to nudge playoff run