Islanders open with 13 road games before UBS debut
NEW YORK—The New York Islanders know what it means to play away from home for a long time. They spent nearly two months in Canada for the 2020 playoff bubble — reaching the Eastern Conference final — after the pandemic disrupted the season.
They now face a record-setting stretch without a home game: The Islanders will begin the season with 13 straight road games while construction of UBS Arena is completed. It is the second-longest road trip in NHL history — Vancouver had 14 in a row during the 2009-10 season, but that included the NHL’s Olympic break — and the longest to open a season.
New York won’t play at home until Nov. 20, more than five weeks into the season.
“It’ll be a challenge for sure,” Islanders centre Brock Nelson said. “Probably the longest trip most of us have had outside of the bubble, which was unique in itself, so maybe we’ll lean on that personal experience of what we’ve done in the past. We have a tight-knit group, guys you can get together with on days off, do some fun things, hang out, build some chemistry, take it one game, one day at a time, and try to power through this and come up with a positive record on the other side.”
Playing a few more games at Nassau Coliseum wasn’t an option, so the NHL drew up a schedule that puts 13 road games on the Islanders’ slate over 33 days. There are trips to Canada, to Arizona and two to Florida as the Isles’ criss-cross the country.
Coach Barry Trotz said he isn’t worried about how his players will handle the opening road swing, having fostered a onegame-at-a-time approach during his three seasons with the team. Fatigue will be watched closely.
“We have a lot of trust in our group and we understand the situation,” he said. “This group has been really great at that. They’re not complainers, they understand it … And I think an early road trip is always good.”
The Islanders will also play seven straight games away from home in April, with the two stretches combining for 20 of the season’s 41 road games. That means New York will be home for two of every three games for most of the season.
At least the Isles know they will have a raucous welcome next month when they return home to the new arena.Season tickets are sold out.