UBS Arena Feeling Like Home for Islanders

The opening of UBS Arena was the biggest win of the season for the New York Islanders.
The Islanders unveiled their state-of-the-art new - and permanent - home on Nov. 20, which marked the start of a new era in the team's history.

"The building's incredible," Matt Martin said. "Not the start we wanted and obviously a few factors that came into play as well. We're disappointed that we didn't give them the season that they were hoping for or ourselves, but the building was great. And we'll come back and get better because of it."

The Islanders first win in their new home came in dramatic fashion, as Zach Parise's first goal for the team held up as the game-winner in a 4-2 triumph over New Jersey on Dec. 11. Parise's goal came on what would have been his father, former Islander JP Parise's - 80th birthday.
There was a bit of adjustment period for the Islanders, who needed some time to establish new routines in the building and get settled in. Once they did, they established a home-ice advantage, going 20-11-3 the rest of the way on home ice after securing their first win, for a 20-16-5 record overall.
"There definitely was a transition there, it's not going to feel like home right away and the way we started at home didn't feel right," captain Anders Lee said. "It took us some time to settle in, and now next year is nothing new. We know the routine and we know what it's like over there, the fans have had a chance to enjoy games and get used to it and we can all go in and play hockey next year."
The Islanders special teams were also very good at home in the second half of the year. Since the beginning of February, the Isles home PP has converted at a 38.0% rate, which was the best in the NHL in that stretch. At home the Isles have killed 47 of 54 (87.0%) since the beginning of February.

UBS Arena delivered some memorable moments in its inaugural season. Lee recorded his first-career hat-trick on March 10 vs Columbus. Noah Dobson scored his first-career OT winner in a 3-2 win over Edmonton on New Years Day. Zdeno Chara was serenaded in the season finale after scoring a last-minute goal. Even in times of mourning, after the passing of Clark Gillies, Jean Potvin and Mike Bossy, UBS Arena was a place for Islanders fans to be with each other, laying flowers at the team's Hall of Fame.
Scott Mayfield had a chance to check out the amenities after suffering a lower-body injury that sidelined him for the final 21 games of the regular season. He gave the building a rave review as a player and a spectator.
"The rink is amazing," Mayfield said. "We love it. The locker room is great. Just talking to fans and having family in town and they love it. Sitting out I was fortunate I got to see upstairs. It's beautiful, everything about it. It's a really nice building and they did a great job. We knew they would and we're excited to just to play there."