Islanders!

They won 4 Stanley Cup championships in the 1980’s, but haven’t won a championship since then.  Still, who could resist when offered tickets to an Islanders game?

Not that we are huge hockey fans, but we did see a game back in 2022.  So when we were offered tickets to last night’s game against the Edmonton Oilers , of course we accepted.

This time around, we were able to park in the brand new garage, thereby avoiding the long hike from the Emerald Parking lot.  Even better than  the lot we used when we saw Andre Rieu, (we parked in the Silver lot for the concert) and  certainly not the horror show of the Emerald Parking lot. (Taking a shuttle bus from the parking lot to the arena can be a bit aggravating.)

As I remembered from our visit last September, you can buy hamburgers and hot dogs on a gluten free bun at a food stand behind section 108. Our seats last night were in section 106, so food was easily accessible.  I had the most incredible cheeseburger.

I want to ride the Zamboni!

  

We got to watch the warmup.

Im used to the slow, strategic pace of baseball.  Hockey is played at breakneck speed.  You hear words like “icing” and “power play”  and “penalty box”.

The game began with two national anthems,  “O Canada”  and “The Star Spangled Banner”.   

And New York fans, especially New York hockey fans, can be very loud and very opinionated. (You don’t go to a hockey game and expect quiet conversation.). The guy on the Jumbotron … the one wearing a New York Rangers jersey … but of course he was booed.  The guy sitting in front of me …his insults to the referees were R rated … 

Edmonton scored a goal in the first two minutes of the game,  but didn’t score again. The Islanders didn’t score at all in the first period but scored three goals in the second period.  Final score 3-1.

We did see the mascot, Sparky the Dragon, but alas, I wasn’t able to get a picture of him this time.  Here are photos from the 2022 game.

Why a dragon?  Interesting backstory.

If you go to an Islanders game, dress in layers.  The arena can get very cold.  

But we had a wonderful night.  I hope we get another opportunity to see a game.