 Swedish stars Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson jumped to the Rangers from the maverick World Hockey Association (WHA).In 1979, they defeated the surging Islanders in the semi-finals and would return to the finals again before bowing out to the Canadiens.However, the Islanders got their revenge, eliminating the Rangers in four consecutive playoff series starting in 1981 "en route" to their second of four consecutive Stanley Cup titles.