New York, which trails 2-0 in the best-of-7 series, is playing its second season in Elmont, New York, after saying goodbye to Nassau Coliseum after the 2020-21 season.
"I expect it to be loud," Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield said at their practice facility Thursday. "Nassau Coliseum] was loud; I don't know if they can get [UBS Arena]*
The Islanders are also hopeful the change of scenery will help them get back in the series. After a 2-1 defeat in Game 1 on Monday, New York blew a one-goal lead in the third period in Game 2 and ultimately created a deeper hole with a 4-3 overtime loss Wednesday.
The Islanders went 25-13-3 at home during the regular season, compared to 17-18-6 on the road.
"We're excited to come back home to our building and our fans," New York coach Lane Lambert said. "They certainly give us an advantage and an edge, so we're happy about that.
"(The first playoff game at UBS Arena is) a pretty, pretty cool thing that's [going to] happen," Lambert said. "There's been some amazing playoff games in the other building, [but] this is the first one of many."
The Islanders are 96-53 all-time in 149 playoff games at home, highlighted by four consecutive Stanley Cup championships from 1980-83. Of those 96 wins, 87 occurred at Nassau Coliseum. Six were split between Toronto and Edmonton in the bubble during the 2020 postseason, and the remaining three took place at Barclays Center in New York in 2016.
"Barclays wasn't our favorite rink, I think that's safe to say," Mayfield said. "But there are some special moments in the Coliseum. For me, my first playoff game was Game 6 against Washington (in 2015), which we thought was kind of closing down that building at the time but then we got to play some more there. So, there's been special times there, for sure."
New York reached the semifinals in back-to-back seasons, including pushing the eventual champion Tampa Bay Lightning to Game 7 in 2021 after former Islanders forward Anthony Beauvillier scored in overtime in Game 6 at Nassau Coliseum.
But those seasons and that building are in the past. On Friday, the Islanders have a chance to start creating playoff memories in their new home.
"You look back and you remember some of those games, some of those moments from the run I was a part of, and I think it's one of those things where we're excited and looking forward to it," forward Kyle Palmieri said. "A lot of good memories are at the Coliseum, but it's time to start some new ones at UBS."
