New York Islanders supporters have been waiting a long time.

Specifically, just over 27 years, or exactly 9,976 days according to the NHL.

But now, for the first time since the spring of 1993, the team has reached the Stanley Cup semifinals.

The road to this year's semifinal became crooked, and the team seemed to be able to fall on the finish line once again.

3-1 in matches against Philadelphia had become 3-3 via two consecutive loss losses before the night's decisive meeting.

Greiss played big

Coach Barry Trotz's move before the decision - to put Thomas Greiss in the goal instead of Semjon Varlamov - proved to be a winning weapon.

Greiss countered shot on shot and kept his goal free from pucks with the help of his defense.

This despite the fact that Philadelphia's Sean Couturier was back after missing the last match due to injury.

Oskar Lindblom also played for Philadelphia, making his second appearance in the NHL since finishing his cancer treatment in July.

From his seat at the back of the ice, Greiss could see his teammates take every opportunity.

Scott Mayfield cracked the game's zero in the middle of the first period, and 30 effective minutes later the team had increased to 3-0.

Beauvilier put 4-0

With seven minutes left to play, Philadelphia I took a desperate last try out their goalkeeper Carter Hart.

The offensive failed, however, and instead Anthony Beauvilier was able to determine the final result 4-0 in an empty net.

The Islanders will now face Tampa Bay in the semifinals - a team that made its debut in the NHL the same season that the Islanders last made it this far in the playoffs.

MORE STANLEY CUP: Finns take Dallas to semifinals (September 5):

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Joel Kiviranta (left) became the big match winner when Dallas advanced to the Stanley Cup.

Photo: Bruce Bennett / AFP / TT