On Saturday, December 1st, the New York Islanders returned to the Nassau Coliseum, playing their first regular season game there since April 25th, 2015. The crowd was louder than it has ever been in three years as they defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2.

From the minute the team skated out for warmups, the fans were going crazy. Right wing, Cal Clutterbuck got a little too vitalized and hit into the glass as he warmed up, and a metal bar came off the boards. He plays at right wing for his line, and that pretty much sums up the fourth line; physical and enlivened. Also belonging to the fourth line was center, Casey Cizikas, who scored the game winning goal 7 minutes into the 3rd period.

The Isles were down 2-0, 8 minutes into the 2nd period, but our new captain, Anders Lee, put the team back in the game by deflecting a shot from Jordan Eberle. After all, you can’t spell Islanders without Anders. Nearly three minutes later, Anthony Beauviller scored his 7th goal of the season off of Josh Bailey. After both goals, the sold out arena of die-hard fans was energetic and hostile, anticipating the next goal. The fans were roaring, debatably even more than a playoff game, which the Isles are on the hunt for this year, having missed playoffs the past two years.

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• Brooklyn
• the Old Barn
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Casey Cizikas set himself up in front of the net, when defender Ryan Pulock carried the puck behind goal and sent a straight pass to Casey and he shot. The crowd went WILD. The exhilaration from the fans created an amazing atmosphere for a hockey game.

The intensity of the crowd sent chills up every fan’s spine. This was a memorable homecoming in their return to the Barn and the fans await the next 19 games to be played there.

“We were physical, we were fast, we were making smart plays, and we had a crowd behind us all night” -Casey Cizikas #53