UBS Arena to Host First Islanders Playoff Game on Friday

It's fitting that in the New York Islanders 50th anniversary season, some new history is going to be made on Friday night at UBS Arena.
The Islanders new state-of-the-art home, which opened in November 2021, will host its first playoff game on Friday night, as the Islanders and Carolina Hurricanes face off in Game Three of their First Round series.

"It's pretty cool thing that's going to happen," Head Coach Lane Lambert said. "There have been some amazing playoff games in the other building, and this is the first one of many [at UBS Arena]."
The Islanders want to make sure that the historical night winds up in the win column, as the Isles currently trail the best-of-seven series two games to none. The old adage is that you're never in trouble until you lose at home, so the Isles are hoping some home ice advantage helps them even things up vs the Canes.
"With our fans, I think it'll be pretty electric," said Bo Horvat who has yet to experience an Islanders playoff game. "They're so passionate, they just love Long Island. I'm guessing and hoping it's going to be really loud. I have no doubt it'll be a high energy game, so looking forward to playing."

The Islanders 25-13-3 record at home this season was tied with the Dallas Stars for the eighth most points (53) at home this season, while their 25 wins were tied for seventh with Vegas and Minnesota. They were especially good down the stretch, going 12-4-1 from Jan. 27 onward, punctuated by a 4-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens to clinch a playoff berth in the last game of the season. The atmosphere vs Montreal offered a glimpse of what Friday and Sunday's games could be.
"The last game, it was the loudest I've ever heard our fans," Noah Dobson said. "We're all expecting that to be raised another level or two. It's going to be exciting, the fans have been waiting for playoffs at UBS. We'll be excited to get back home as well."
Dobson also noted that the Islanders felt much more comfortable at UBS Arena in year two, as opposed to the inaugural year, where new routines, covid disruptions and various injuries turned into a 20-16-5 home record.
"It really feels like a home now," Dobson said. "The first year, we were still feeling it out. With everything going on, it was a weird year last year. But this year it really started to feel like home and our fans have been great. We're excited to play some playoff hockey in front of them."
The last Islanders playoff home game is something of legend, with fans throwing beer cans on the ice at Nassau Coliseum in celebration of Anthony Beauvillier's OT winner in Game Six against the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2021. That's a high bar, but the Islanders are confident they'll have a similar environment on Friday night. The venue may have changed, but the fans who populate it are very much the same.
"We're excited and we're looking forward to it," Kyle Palmieri said. "A lot of good memories at the Coliseum, but it's time to start some new ones at UBS."

Not that Islanders fans need any help getting revved up for a big game, but the team is hosting a Plaza Party, presented by Heineken, ahead of both Games Three and Four. Fans can meet Bobby Nystrom from 5PM-6PM on Friday night and enjoy $7.99 12oz cans of Heineken and $4.99 Hot Dogs & Pretzels. Friday's Plaza Party starts at 4 p.m. and runs until 6:15 p.m. DJ Ria will be on the ones and twos at the Plaza Party and fans can also play lawn games and test their shot in the slap shot booth.
Sunday starts early, with festivities running from 10 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Benoit Hogue will be on hand to sign autographs from 11 a.m. to noon.
Whether the atmosphere starts at the Plaza Party, the parking lot or on the train, the Islanders are hoping to harness it when the puck drops inside the building.
"I think it's going to be fantastic," Lambert said. "We know how our fans are. We know how they are in playoffs. So we're excited to get the game going."