lˈeɪɾɚ, æz ðə lˈiːɡ ɛkspˈændᵻd, ðɪ ˈaɪləndɚz plˈeɪd ɐn ˈeɪtɡˈeɪm sˈɪɹiz ɐɡˈɛnst ˈiːtʃ tˈiːm ɪn ˈɔːɹdɚ tə kˈʌt dˌaʊn ˌɔn tɹˈævəl kˈɔsts.
Later, as the league expanded, the Islanders played an eight-game series against each team in order to cut down on travel costs.