The Islanders finally open the UBS Arena on Saturday night against the Calgary Flames.
The wait is finally over. After spending the first month and several weeks of the 2021-22 season on the road, the New York Islanders play their home-opener at the brand-new UBS Arena on Saturday.
It’s been a couple of years, but the arena is finally ready and fans couldn’t be more excited.
The first warmups at @UBSArena start NOW. pic.twitter.com/k0078DGsDT
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) November 20, 2021
Our first fans in the building!
Come on in. Stay awhile. @NYIslanders pic.twitter.com/BjGeDPforv— UBS Arena (@UBSArena) November 20, 2021
LETS GO ISLANDERS!!!! #isles @UBSArena pic.twitter.com/TnAr0qyG59
— Kim M. (@IslesGirl3) November 20, 2021
We made it #isles ! @UBSArena is amazing! Let’s go @NYIslanders ! pic.twitter.com/YHyXuwAr06
— Natalie (@Barzy13Matty17) November 20, 2021
She’s real and she’s beautiful @UBSArena pic.twitter.com/PxfEVqdm1T
— Jimmy/Steve (@itsbillythomas_) November 20, 2021
Home @UBSArena @NYIslanders @Kinger2724 #Isles #homeopener #nhl pic.twitter.com/2aN9tNGXBC
— Brendan Donohue (@BPDonohue17) November 20, 2021
https://twitter.com/UBSArena/status/1462192311123824648/photo/1
There really is no place like home. pic.twitter.com/V8bRO9oz2U
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) November 21, 2021
The Islanders took on the Calgary Flames on this historic night. The Islanders played their first-ever game at Nassau Coliseum in 1972 against the then-Atlanta Flames, too.
This was also an interesting night because several Islanders players would miss the game after being placed on COVID-19 protocol. What a night it was for RHD Grant Hutton and LHD Robin Salo to make their NHL debuts.
Welcome to the show Hutton & Salo! ? pic.twitter.com/hHDUll5IfN
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) November 20, 2021
To celebrate the special night, the Islanders invited some familiar faces to participate in puck-drop.
A big thank you to our #Isles Alumni, who helped us drop the puck for tonight’s inaugural game at @UBSArena.
There's nothing like celebrating these special moments with them. pic.twitter.com/V9e7dEVoPG
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) November 21, 2021
Some of the greatest Islanders of all time, members of the team’s hall of fame, partook in the honors: Butch Goring, Denis Potvin, Bobby Nystrom, and Clark Gillies. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman was also in attendance.
Brock Nelson will go down in history as the first-ever Islanders goal-scorer at UBS.
The Islanders can finally call Elmont their home and this marks the beginning of a new era in this storied franchise’s history.
