"I think it's close, for sure. I have a lot of great memories from the Coli. In playoffs. I remember our first game back there after Brooklyn. It was pretty crazy there. It was nuts. And it's fun to play in an environment like that. When UBS has gotten kind of rocking, it definitely comes close to that. Hopefully throughout the rest of the season and the playoffs, we can give the fans a reason to be like that."
"I think it's huge. You look at the schedule. We have the trip next week and then a lot of home games. Being at home, in front of your fans, with the noise and the structure of the days, home-ice advantage is a real thing. We're lucky how the schedule has set up going into April. It's a lot of home games other than a couple. We're excited to play in front of our fans for sure."
The Islanders are entering a critical stretch with 12 of their final 17 games scheduled at UBS Arena, including 10 of their last 12 after a three-game Canadian road trip. This home-heavy schedule presents a significant opportunity for the team to gain playoff positioning advantage. UBS Arena has demonstrated strong fan support with 13 consecutive sellouts and 18 sellouts in 30 home dates, creating an intimidating atmosphere comparable to the historic Nassau Coliseum. Players recognize that home-ice advantage is substantial during playoff-contention stretches, with the noise and familiar environment providing tangible benefits. The team must capitalize on fan enthusiasm and venue atmosphere to convert home games into wins during this crucial final stretch of the regular season.
Read at Newsday
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