Islanders Appreciative For In-Person Support During Playoff Run

For two seasons now, the New York Islanders have been one of the final four teams playing in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
There were similarities in the two runs, in terms of personnel on the ice, being underestimated by portions of the hockey world and ultimately in having Tampa Bay end their season.
The biggest and most obvious difference was the 2020 playoffs taking place in a Canadian bubble, playing in empty buildings and being separated from friends, family and society for the better part of two months, vs making this year's run on Long Island with the full force of the fans behind them.

"Last year we definitely felt the support even though we were in the bubble, but this year to have our fans, our families, our friends and everyone involved and be fully apart of it … it was special," Josh Bailey said. "It was a lot of fun and you could feel how much it meant, how our fans were into it. We landed yesterday and a couple hundred people are waiting for us, it was special."

The Islanders could see the support last season, whether it was a plane flying a banner over Toronto, or the flood of messages on social media. But there was just something different about playing in front of a sold out Nassau Coliseum, or seeing fans lining up around the block for t-shirt and towel giveaways, or just being stopped on the street and getting encouragement from the Isles faithful.
"There was a buzz on the Island, that's for sure," Scott Mayfield said. "We're happy we could bring that."
Anders Lee may have missed the postseason on the ice due to a season-ending ACL injury in March, but the Islanders captain had a unique perspective being in the stands at the Coliseum. As much as he wanted to be on the ice, he appreciated the energy and passion in the building, cheering right along and supporting the team.

"With the bubble run last year, we felt it, we felt the support, we knew there was a buzz on the Island," Lee said. "But for this year now to have fans in the building and feel it and be around town between games and stuff like that, it's a special thing. These runs are special and it's great for the fans, it's great for us and we plan on going on as many of these as we can and continuing to build on what we have in the last two to three years. Each year our group comes a long way and we get closer and closer each time."
Head Coach Barry Trotz preached to his players about staying in the moment, enjoying the opportunity to be in the playoffs and not take it for granted. He very well could have been talking to the fans as well, who were looking for an emotional and mental outlet after spending 16 months living through a pandemic, often isolated from each other. The Islanders' coach often encouraged fans to show up and tailgate and be loud for the team and themselves and they obliged.
"It was medicine for this area, for the fanbase, for this pandemic year as we've gone through," Trotz said. "Great medicine and memories."

With society continuing to reopen and return to normalcy, the Islanders are looking forward to continuing to have that energy and support from the fans when the season begins next fall. It was not lost on them that this past season started in an empty building and ended with 13,000 people singing the anthem in unison - and they certainly won't take it for granted when a packed house shows up for the home opener next season.
"Everyone around the world is excited for things to open up and get back to normal," Mayfield said. "It's been a tough year for everyone, I think everyone is just ready for things to open up and when the fans were allowed back in they showed that, they brought the noise, they were happy to get in there right away and we're happy about that. Next year will be better."