8 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • MAY 2019
ISLES PLAYOFF RUN
HOPE FOR HOMECOMIN
BY ALEX MITCHELL
Blaring car horns set off
to the cadence of “Let’s
go, Islanders!” made a
long-awaited return to
Hempstead Turnpike
and Charles Lindbergh
Boulevard this April.
After a season that was
preceded with despair
over the departure of
New York Islanders’
longtime Captain John
Tavares to the Toronto
Maple Leafs, the team
once again defied hockey
“experts” dismal
expectations. They did
so by stringing together
a 103-point season,
securing the Metropolitan Division’s
second playoff spot and home ice for
rounds one and two in the process
— although “home ice” is a slippery
term right now for the Isles.
“I feel as if the fan base is rejuvenated
with this return home to the Coliseum
and playoff run,” says Farmingdale
resident and Islanders diehard
fan Brian Tinney.
Of course, the Islanders only
played the opening round of the
playoffs at NYCB Live, Home of
the Nassau Veterans Memorial
Coliseum in Uniondale, their
original home where they won
four straight Stanley Cups. When
efforts to rebuild the aging arena
stalled, the team skated to the
new Barclays Center in Brooklyn
in 2015, where they played round
two of the playoffs. Meanwhile,
the team’s ownership is in the
process of building a new arena
that is expected to open in 2021 at
Belmont Park in Elmont.
As for the Islanders’ stunning
regular season, the National
Hockey League saw a resurgence
of goaltender Robin Lehner, the
fanciest of stick work and scoring
from All-Star forward Mat Barzal,
and similar offensive magic from
forward Jordan Eberle along with
other teammates like captain and
former Notre Dame Fighting Irish
forward Anders Lee.
The team not only reclaimed the Coliseum’s
“Fort Neverlose” namesake
this season, but also had a postseason
sweep over an opponent for the first
time since the Islanders won a fourth
consecutive Stanley Cup in 1983.
Brett Ansbacher, a season ticket holder
for years along with his father, has
followed the team through ups and
downs.
“No matter what though, this season
is a huge success in my book and has
me extremely excited for a future on
Long Island,” Ansbacher says.
IN THE NEWS
Islanders captain Anders Lee carries the puck
across the blue line during the Stanley Cup
Playoffs at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on
April 26th, 2019. (Photo by Joe Nuzzo)
“No matter what ... this season is a huge
success in my book and has me extremely
excited for a future on Long Island,”
says Islanders fan Brett Ansbacher.
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