Away from UBS Arena, the New York Islanders have been struggling on the road this season. Therefore, their first game at home will be a nice change of pace. As the Islanders currently have a 5-6-2 record, the team is in desperate need of a jolt of energy. And UBS Arena will be just that.

Last season, the Islanders had a home record of 21-4-3.  The Islanders are a team that benefits from sleeping in their own beds and getting dressed in their own locker room. Even without fans for most of the season, the Islanders still made home-ice advantage important.

With a losing record on the road this season, the Islanders are struggling to get a foothold. Coming back home to Long Island, this team will perform like the Islanders of seasons before. And that will get the team back into the playoffs.

For fans, there are still concerns over the arena itself, like difficulties with parking, lack of transportation, expensive ticket prices and the simple fact the arena is unfinished. But with all these issues, this will still be a breath of fresh air for a team that needs to get going.

In Barry Trotz’s postgame press conference Tuesday after a 6-1 loss against the Florida Panthers, he noted that it was going to take some time for UBS Arena to feel like home – before saying he is looking forward to the new building.

“We’re thrilled that we’re getting into a new rink,” Trotz said. “I’m sure it will give us energy.”

Now, even if there are issues to be concerned about, UBS Arena will be a useful for the Islanders to get their season back on track.

Jack Kobil

Hi, my name is Jack Kobil. I am currently attending Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington DC. I am a huge Islanders fan and I love to share my passion for this team.