When UBS Arena first opened, the line was that it would sound just like Nassau Coliseum used to, thanks to purposely similar acoustic structure.
Friday night, when the new building hosts its first playoff game with the Islanders in need of a Game 3 win over the Hurricanes, we’ll see just how true that is.
“It’ll be emotional. It’ll be a lot of fun,” Kyle Palmieri said. “It’s gonna be a loud, a lot of guys are still here from the run from a couple years ago. We’re looking forward to it, getting back in front of our fans, and I know fans are looking forward to it, too.”
Thanks in part to the 2020 bubble, UBS will be the fifth building the Islanders have hosted a playoff game in over the past decade — with Barclays Center, Rogers Place in Edmonton and Scotiabank Arena in Toronto filling out the list.
But the franchise’s spiritual home was always in Uniondale, at 1255 Hempstead Turnpike.
The team’s 2021 playoff run proved to be a swan song for the building, which Anthony Beauvillier closed down with a Game 6 overtime winner against the Lightning before the Islanders ultimately lost on the road in Game 7.
Friday will be a chance to make some new memories, as the Islanders try to climb out of a 2-0 hole in their first-round series.
“I expect it to be loud,” Scott Mayfield said. “The Coli was loud. I don’t know if they can get it to the same level, but that’d be nice. It was a fun place to play for sure. We’ll see what it’s like [Friday] night.”
Four teams in NHL history have come back down 3-0 in a series, including the 1975 Islanders against Pittsburgh, but it last occurred in 2014, with the Kings pulling off the comeback over the Sharks.
In other words, the Islanders need to protect home ice like their season depends on it.
“I think it means a lot,” coach Lane Lambert said of the building’s playoff opener. “It’s a pretty cool thing that’s gonna happen. There’s been some amazing playoff games in the other building, and this is the first one of many [at UBS].”
Want to catch a game? The Islanders schedule with links to buy tickets can be found here.
Lambert did not rule out bringing in defenseman Parker Wotherspoon for Samuel Bolduc, who took just one shift after the first period in Game 2 — that one culminating in a double-minor for high-sticking in which the Islanders scored an own goal.
Wotherspoon played 12 games for the Isles this season but has not been in the lineup since a 5-2 home loss to Carolina on Jan. 21.
Lambert also didn’t rule out Alexander Romanov returning from an upper-body injury in Game 3, saying the Russian defenseman is “getting closer” to rejoining the team.