Old Barn Gets One More Round

A year after the Islanders made the Eastern Conference Finals in the bubble, there was a lot of hope on Long Island. In the final season at Nassau Coliseum, a weird one at that, the team and fans wanted to have one more good run at fort neverlose. Now that roll keeps on going, thanks to the Islanders 6-2 win over Boston on Wednesday night to send the team to the Stanley Cup Semifinals, for the 2nd year in a row. Waiting for them will be the team that ended the dream run last year the Tampa Bay Lightning.

With the team getting set to open a new building come fall, that means one more playoff series at the Coliseum.

From 1972 to 2015, and then again from 2017 to now, the Coliseum has been the hallowed home of Islanders hockey. Sure, the building has been a dump, and at times rightfully so. But it was our dump and it will always hold a special place in the hears of us Islanders fans. Many a great Islander moment has taken place at that building.

Four straight Stanley Cups, 19 straight playoff series victories. A shocking run to the conference finals in 1993. Back to back runs the last two seasons. Shawn Bates penalty shot 2002. Fight night in 2011 against Pittsburgh. Dramatic goals in both the regular season and playoffs. Some of the greatest players to ever play the game. Mike Bossy, Bryan Trottier, Denis Potvin, Billy Smith, Pat LaFontaine, the list goes on and on of a who's who that have played there. 

When this season started, nobody knew what to expect, both on the ice and in the stands. The on ice play had high expectations after last season's finish, and at times this year it didn't look good. But in true Islander fashion, the play was resilient and here we sit. Expectations have not only been met, but exceeded by this team in the final year of the old building.

As for the crowd, they've been as loud as ever (like we would do any different). When the season started there were no fans in attendance. Health regulations would not allow it. Then, as the season wore on, they started coming back. By the end of the Boston series, they building was full and the crowd was as loud as ever. It has always been a very tough place to play out here on Long Island. Its intimidating as hell.

Now there's at least two more games to go in the place that the team has called home for 47 years. How will it end? Only time will tell. Whatever the outcome its been a hell of a ride and a hell of a sendoff!