Islanders to face John Tavares, Maple Leafs at Nassau Coliseum on Feb. 28
Maple Leafs centre John Tavares smiles as he warms up against the Canadiens on Oct. 3 in Toronto. Credit: The Canadian Press via AP/Nathan Denette
Former Islanders captain John Tavares will now play both of his return games to Long Island at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum.
The Islanders announced Wednesday that their Feb. 28 home game against the Maple Leafs has been switched from Barclays Center to Nassau Coliseum. That means a majority of the Islanders’ home games – 21 – will be played at the arena that was their permanent home through 2015, with 20 games in Brooklyn.
“That should be a good atmosphere, it should be fun,” Islanders right wing Cal Clutterbuck said.
“I know people aren’t happy with him, understandably so,” Clutterbuck added of Tavares, who signed a seven-year, $77-million deal with Toronto on July 1. “Hopefully, our play and our record at that point in the year shows people that his decision was made and this group is more than prepared and capable of going on without him.”
The Islanders play their first regular-season game at Nassau Coliseum since 2015 when they host the Blue Jackets on Dec. 1. Their last scheduled game at Barclays Center this season now is Feb. 16 against the Oilers. The Maple Leafs already were scheduled to play at Nassau Coliseum on April 1.
Clutterbuck is in favor of more games at Nassau Coliseum regardless of the opponent.
“It helps players in their game-day routine,” Clutterbuck said. “I think, mentally, it’s a lot less taxing, a lot easier to get out for a game to the Coliseum. And if there are only 10,000 people there, it seems to carry some sort of energy. It’s like the 10,000 people that are there want to be there and are invested. So that will definitely help feed us for sure.”
The Islanders announced that season-ticket holders will be contacted by their account representatives regarding the venue change on Feb. 28 and that individual ticket holders for that game should contact their point of purchase.
Islanders' schedule at Nassau Coliseum
Dec. 1 vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
Dec. 10 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Dec. 15 vs. Detroit Red Wings
Jan. 3 vs. Chicago Blackhawks
Jan. 8 vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Jan. 17 vs. New Jersey Devils
Jan. 20 vs. Anaheim Ducks
Feb. 1 vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
Feb. 2 vs. Los Angeles Kings
Feb. 26 vs. Calgary Flames
Feb. 28 vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
March 1 vs. Washington Capitals
March 3 vs. Philadelphia Flyers
March 5 vs. Ottawa Senators
March 9 vs. Philadelphia Flyers
March 11 vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
March 14 vs. Montreal Canadiens
March 19 vs. Boston Bruins
March 24 vs. Arizona Coyotes
March 30 vs. Buffalo Sabres
April 1 vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
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.