When you think of the dynastic New York Islanders of the 1980s, you likely think of the scoring wizardry of Mike Bossy, the playmaking prowess of Bryan Trottier, the puck-rushing brilliance of Denis Potvin, even the stick-swinging crease curmudgeonry of Billy Smith. But none of that dominance happens without Clark Gillies. The Islanders announced Gillies died on Friday. He was 67. No cause of death was revealed. The Islanders owned the NHL in the regular season in the mid-1970s, but had trouble closing the deal. Season after season, they would run roughshod over the competition, only to be pushed around and cast aside in the playoffs to provide another troubling and disappointing upset. By 1979-80, the clock was running down on the Islanders’ potential. Playoff ineptitude hung over the club as it entered the post-season. A first-round dismissal of the Los Angeles Kings raised barely a pulse. Been there, done that. The next opponent didn’t reassure fans that this would be their ...