Islanders close in on new home

The New York Islanders have been awarded the right to build a new arena at the site of Belmont Park, according to people familiar with the matter, bringing the hockey team closer to its traditional Long Island fan base after an unsuccessful stint in Brooklyn.

The Islanders proposal, which beat out a submission from Major League Soccer’s NYCFC, calls for an 18,000seat arena that would house 150 events a year. The plans also include 435,000 square feet of retail space along with a hotel, the people said, asking not to be identified as the information isn’t public.

The deal could be announced as soon as Wednesday.

State officials in July asked for proposals to develop the site, saying part of their aim was to transform Belmont Park into a entertainment, sports, hospitality and retail complex.

The Islanders have been seeking an alternative to Barclays Center, which became the team’s home in the 2015-16 season.

The team has the league’s worst attendance, averaging about 11,642 a game this season.

Maple Leafs

Mitch Marner and Tyler Bozak each had a goal and three assists Tuesday as host Toronto stopped a three-game slide by routing Carolina, 8-1, in a rare midweek afternoon game. Toronto scored four goals in the first and four more in the third on a special anniversary for the NHL, whose first games were played Dec. 19, 1917.