Islanders hope to avoid letdown after Coliseum return
Islanders center Mathew Barzal and right wing Josh Bailey celebrate with left wing Anthony Beauvillier after he scored against the Blue Jackets in the second period of a game at Nassau Coliseum on Saturday. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
The decibel level will be significantly lower this time. But the Islanders believe they can continue their home-ice advantage at Barclays Center and not suffer a letdown after the raucous sellout crowd at refurbished NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum pushed them to a comeback victory.
“You’ve got to just go out there and play within your structure and find a way to win,” Matt Martin said. “Sometimes it’s just about surviving. We did that a little bit against Columbus, we battled back and our fans helped us get back in the game. [At Barclays], it’s a different atmosphere. You’re leaning on each other more to provide that energy, which can be harder. But we expect to play well and find a way to win.”
The Islanders (13-9-3) will face the Jets (16-8-2) on Tuesday in Brooklyn after their triumphant return to the Coliseum, a 3-2 win over the Blue Jackets on Saturday before a crowd of 13,917.
Islanders coach Barry Trotz described the homecoming party atmosphere as akin to a playoff game.
“I’m so used to it now, I don’t really think about it anymore,” Josh Bailey said of playing at the quieter Barclays Center. “I can see where, if you’re comparing Saturday at the Coliseum to a Tuesday at Barclays Center, it’s obviously different. But our fans that are there still bring a good atmosphere and always find a way to be loud, much like on Saturday night. There were just a few more of them.”
The Islanders are averaging 10,448 at Barclays Center this season, but
they have done well at their new home arena after vacating the Coliseum following the 2014-15 season.
They are 6-3-2 in Brooklyn this season and 72-44-18 overall.
“Barry touched upon it on the ice today that we’re just going to have to really stick to our systems and create our own momentum,” Nick Leddy said. “Nothing is going to be as loud as the Coliseum was. I just think [Barclays] kind of traps that sound.”
Notes & quotes: Defenseman Bode Wilde, 18, selected 41st overall in June, agreed to a three-year, entry-level deal with the Islanders. Wilde has five goals and 17 assists in 21 games for Saginaw (OHL) in his first season in the Canadian junior league . . . With the power play 0-for-15 in the last seven games, Trotz switched his units at Monday’s practice. Mathew Barzal rejoined the top unit along with Leddy, Bailey, Jordan Eberle and Anders Lee. Valtteri Filppula was inserted into the second unit with Johnny Boychuk, Ryan Pulock, Brock Nelson and Cal Clutterbuck . . . Trotz on how to contain Jets scoring sensation Patrik Laine (21 goals, three assists): “Maybe some bad food at the hotel?”
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
More Islanders
