New York Islanders sell out 1st game back at Nassau Coliseum

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New York Islanders fans are making the most of their team's return to Nassau Coliseum. (Kathy Willens/AP)

The New York Islanders are playing their first game at Nassau Coliseum in over three years, and, well…

It seems like a good idea!

The Islanders will play 21 games in their old barn this season, and close to 70 over the next three seasons, including pre-season contests.

The decision to return to the 13,900-seat facility has been a popular one with fans, who never quite took to Barclays Center.

The Brooklyn arena wasn’t built with hockey in mind, and the Islanders entered Saturday’s contest with the Columbus Blue Jackets carrying the NHL’s worst average attendance figure at 10,447. The team has twice failed to draw 9,000 fans to its games.

But the rebuilding team – led by the dynamic Mat Barzal – does seem poised to drum up excitement on Long Island, and with a permanent home slated to be built in Belmont Park a few seasons from now, things are starting to look up for the Islanders franchise.

For now at least, there’s always the nostalgia of coming home.

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