The Islanders, the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Old Barn and taking one more step closer to normal

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — There’s something special about old hockey arenas. They have this coziness to them that makes you feel like you’re wrapped up in a warm wool sweater, which, to be fair, you could definitely use in some of them. They have charm and subtle nuances that make them special, and they have unparalleled history.

And maybe it’s because of days like Thursday, when the Islanders hosted the Penguins in Game 3 of their Stanley Cup playoff matchup — and the seats had fans in them.

A lot of them.

It’d been a long time coming. 

The COVID-19 pandemic robbed everyone of watching the end of the 2019-20 season. It forced the world to watch the summer postseason from home, even the fans who could walk past the NHL’s bubble hockey locales of Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena and Edmonton’s Rogers Place. Most rinks still weren’t allowing any fans at the start of the 2021 season in January — and the four remaining Canadian clubs in the postseason are still fanless. 

“We’re missing my fans a lot,” Oilers captain and Art Ross Trophy winner Connor McDavid said recently. “It’s tough to see some of these [playoff] games down south with fans going crazy and the building looks pretty packed. Obviously, we missed that a lot and we know our fans would be going nuts this time of year.”

Was the Coliseum filled to the rafters on Thursday or even on Saturday for Game 4? No, not even close. There were only about 6,800 in a building that seats 13,000-plus. But, after months of being cooped up, of searching for the familiar, of wanting things to go back to the way they were, Thursday felt almost normal. 

“I’ve been at so many games at the Coliseum over the years, including lots of big playoff games,” said Nick Hirshon, an Islanders fan and season ticketholder. “You’re used to it being a raucous atmosphere, especially a game like [Thursday] where it’s back and forth and there’s big goals being scored, fights, everybody’s high-fiving, chanting. There were still a lot of ‘Let’s Go Islander’ chants. There were still a lot of people getting into it, obviously, when the Islanders come back, tie the game. But it didn’t feel the same — it felt like getting a little bit closer to that.”

Sporting blue or white Islanders jerseys, the faithful showered support on their club. From the packed vaccinated half to the more socially distanced non-vaccinated one (as per New York State guidelines), the chanting and cheering reverberated around the Old Barn in its last twirl around the playoffs dance floor.

At times, it felt closer to the days when the Islanders rattled off four straight Stanley Cups. At times, it felt closer to the days of the old Rangers and Islanders’ rivalry. At times, it felt closer to the recent memory of John Tavares’ return as a Maple Leaf. 

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They chanted “Barry” for head coach Trotz when he gingerly walked along the boards on the ice to the bench in his dress shoes with the rubber soles. They rained down boos when the Penguins skated out each time and they cheered like mad for their team — especially when there was a thunderous check or a big-time save from Semyon Varlamov. And, of course, each time the boys from Long Island mounted a comeback before losing 5-4 and going down 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.

“We’re going to need all the positive vibes from our crowd,” Trotz said Thursday. “We might not get off to a great start, but stick with us. When we got rolling, they were a big part of it. It’s great. it’s a great atmosphere and our fans will help us get through this series and hopefully win the series.”

It’s not surprising that the building was loud despite it not being filled to the brim. Newer buildings are not built like this one, which will shut its hockey doors at the end of this Isles postseason run. The ceiling hangs low and condenses and compresses every fan into one pitch-perfect note as if they’re yelling in unison in your ear. 

“The crowd was into it and it was fun to have fans back in the building. Obviously, gave us a lot of energy and we felt that for sure,” Anthony Beauvillier said.

The energy was loud, albeit a little skewed with one side slimmer in numbers than the other — but it felt almost normal. 

Every time the team chanted “Jar-ry” to heckle Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry, it felt like another step closer.

Every time they reacted with a wave of emotion, such as when the 5-on-5 scrum happened early in the third period, another step. 

And yes, every time they told the referees they didn’t think they were very good at their jobs.

We’re almost there. 

We’ve now seen it across the NHL, from the Golden Knights in Vegas to the fans filling up Amalie Arena to watch the Lightning host the Panthers to the Caniacs sticking around for the “Storm Surge” in Raleigh, N.C. And we’ll see it for at least one more game at the Coliseum after the Islanders evened the series on Saturday.

Things are getting back to normal.

It’s all that we’re looking for. We’re one step closer to that atmosphere, to everything we remember. The familiar, like that warm wool sweater.

And that’s a good thing. 

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