Islanders' game vs. Kraken postponed by winter storm
Mathew Barzal and Semyon Varlamov of the Islanders look on after the Kings scored an empty-net goal during the third period at UBS Arena on Thursday. Credit: Jim McIsaac
The Islanders and expansion Seattle Kraken are having a hard time getting their scheduled games played.
Saturday’s matinee at UBS Arena was postponed, the NHL announced on Friday night, marking the second postponement between the teams. This game will be played Wednesday at 7 p.m. as the conclusion of a seven-game homestand before the All-Star break.
Because of the impending winter storm, Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for Long Island, New York City and three counties on Friday night and the LIRR suspended service overnight.
So former Islanders forward Jordan Eberle’s first chance to face his former teammates and see UBS Arena will have to wait a few more days.
The Islanders also were supposed to play in Seattle on Jan. 4 as part of a road trip that also included Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary. But with Canadian cities limiting attendance because of a COVID-19 surge, the league opted to push those games later in the season.
The Islanders will make their first visit to Seattle on Feb. 22 as the start of a five-game road trip through March 1 that also includes San Jose, Los Angeles, Anaheim and Colorado.
The Islanders are no strangers to postponements this season, though this is their first weather-related one. Ten of their games were postponed between Nov. 28-Jan. 11 because of COVID-19 issues, and this becomes the 14th game rescheduled overall.
This is the seventh time in team history that the Islanders have had a game postponed because of weather and the first since Jan. 23, 2016.
The Islanders, who were off Friday after Thursday’s 3-2 loss to the Kings, will face the Wild on Sunday night.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
