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There were a lot of reasons why the Islanders lost the first two games of their second-round series against the Hurricanes, but you know what was not? The fact that the games were played at Barclays Center.
Of course, it was a strange change, as it would be the case for any franchise, to move the location of its home games in the middle of the playoffs. Of course, from a competitive point of view, the Islanders would prefer to play these games at the Coliseum, where they started sweeping the Penguins in the first round.
But the crowds in Brooklyn have behaved very well this weekend, despite the fact that these two defensive teams are doing everything in their power to suck the life of their opponent (and therefore a match) . The soft ice – which is no harder in Raleigh, Nc., For the third game on Wednesday night – surely did not add to the level of excitement.
But to think that the site had anything to do with the Islanders who scored a goal in two games would be a mistake. To think that scoring a goal in two games will almost never give you a chance to win, well, that would make a lot more sense.
As will be repeated ad nauseam, the post-season is a game of thumb. Yes, even the smallest advantage can make the difference, especially in very tight games. But the place has absolutely nothing to do with all the messages that the Islanders posted in the second game, nor with all the chances they missed for nothing but their failure. Heck, the only goal they scored in this series was deflected by a Mat Barzal pass!
"We have to score a few goals," said coach Barry Trotz as his team rested Monday. "For now, we're just a little late."
The Islanders had 10 days off between sets, which must be the main reason they lacked sharpness. On the contrary, the change of place of origin probably helped them to concentrate.
After practice Thursday on Long Island, the entire team boarded a bus and went to their hotel in Battery Park. They stayed for three nights, which resulted in a Saturday training day at Barclays Center. It was a strange mix of life at home and on the road. But this team has won the same number of games (12) at Barclays Center this season as at the Coliseum. And the Islanders have also won the same number of games (24) on the road as at home.
So is it really important?
What matters is that the league made a decision in February that resulted in a compromise. The NHL gave the Islanders the first round at the Coliseum, partly for nostalgia and partly for the playoffs not to start with a scene in a half-empty, soulless gloomy arena. It was clever for Sixth Avenue to realize that even though most Islanders fans did not like Barclays, they would show up and be rowdy once the second round started.
What is lost in this movement is that the financial implications of staying at the Coliseum do not only affect the league, they affect all teams and all players.
The money raised during these games is considered a hockey income, a decisive figure that determines, among other things, the salary cap and the escrow withdrawn from each player's paycheck. Forget even the difference between the 13,917 and 15,795 seats and realize that Barclays has about 100 luxury suites while the Coliseum has fewer than 10. Guess at the average price of a suite, do the math, and the difference of income is staggering.
If the repercussions were that the islanders lose a distinct competitive advantage, then maybe there could be just indignation. But they do not do it. And remember, maybe it was not this ownership group or this group of wickets, but the franchise was found in this situation. Nobody forced the islanders to be squatters. Well, maybe the backward politicians in Nassau County pushed them gently, but still …
Despite all the noise, Trotz has his Islanders acting with aplomb. They are not far from this series by an effort of imagination, but they could be there if they lose the third match. Chances are they'll come back for at least one more match at Barclays.
And whether they win or lose, rest assured, the result has nothing to do with the setting.
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